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Definitions

few and far between

ADJECTIVE
few
Synonyms
STRONG
lean less middling minor minority minute petty scanty scattering short slight trifling
WEAK
exiguous imperceptible inconsequential inconsiderable infrequent insufficient meager negligible not many not too many occasional paltry piddling rare scant scarce scarcely any scattered seldom semioccasional skimpy slender slim some sparse sporadic stingy straggling thin uncommon unfrequent widely spaced
Antonyms
STRONG
big consequential fat important large major significant tall thick useful
WEAK
many much
ADJECTIVE
infrequent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
meager occasional odd rare sparse sporadic uncommon
WEAK
exceptional few isolated limited scant scanty scarce scattered seldom semioccasional spasmodic stray unusual
Antonyms
STRONGEST
common constant frequent full regular usual
WEAK
often
ADJECTIVE
nonexistent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absent negative tenuous vacant
WEAK
airy baseless blank chimerical dead defunct departed dreamlike dreamy empty ethereal extinct extinguished fancied flimsy gone gossamery groundless hallucinatory hypothetical illusory imaginary imagined immaterial imponderable insubstantial legendary lost missing mythical null null and void passed away passed on perished shadowy ungrounded unreal unsubstantial vague vaporous void without foundation
Antonyms
WEAK
actual existent existing real true
ADJECTIVE
rare
Synonyms
STRONGEST
extraordinary limited occasional scarce singular strange subtle uncommon unique unlikely unthinkable unusual
WEAK
attenuate attenuated deficient few flimsy inconceivable isolated light out of the ordinary rarefied recherché scanty scattered seldom semioccasional short sparse sporadic subtile tenuous thin unfrequent unheard of unimaginable unwonted
Antonyms
STRONGEST
common commonplace familiar frequent normal ordinary regular standard sufficient usual
WEAK
cheap typical well-done worthless
ADJECTIVE
scarce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deficient limited rare scant scanty sparse sporadic
WEAK
at a premium failing few in short supply occasional seldom seldom met with semioccasional short shortened shy truncated uncommon unusual wanting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
adequate ample plentiful satisfactory sufficient
WEAK
abundant frequent
ADJECTIVE
sparse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
inadequate infrequent meager scant scanty scarce skimpy sporadic thin
WEAK
dispersed exiguous occasional poor rare scrimpy spare uncommon
Antonyms
STRONGEST
abundant adequate enough fat frequent plentiful sufficient
WEAK
full lush

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“The reality, however, is that altruistic idealists are few and far between in this world.”

From Slate • Mar. 25, 2026

It has long been handicapped by a rule requiring full consensus among members, meaning decisions are few and far between.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

No small achievement: You have built up $965,000, including your inheritance, and your surplus every month is $6,000 before you spend money on leisure activities, which appear to be few and far between.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

Those who create this mystical power are few and far between - leaders such as Bill Shankly and Klopp at Liverpool, and Ferguson at Old Trafford.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

These days the pieces were few and far between.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo