What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Rarely vs Sparingly - What's the difference?

rarely | sparingly |

As adverbs the difference between rarely and sparingly

is that rarely is not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often while sparingly is in a sparing manner; with frugality, moderation, scantiness, reserve, forbearance, or the like; sparsely.

rarely

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often.
    • We rarely go to the theatre.
    Rarely do you ever find an eagle this far up the river.
  • Unusually well; excellently.
  • To a rare degree; very.
  • *, II.32:
    • others speake very honourably of his life and death, and in all other circumstances declare him to have beene a most excellent and rarely virtuous man.

    Usage notes

    It is grammatically a negative word. It therefore collocates with ever rather than never. * Compare We rarely ever go to the theatre.'' with ''We almost never go to the theatre.

    Synonyms

    * barely * hardly * infrequently * once in a while * seldom * sporadically * scarcely

    Antonyms

    * frequently, usually, often

    References

    * * English frequency adverbs

    sparingly

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • In a sparing manner; with frugality, moderation, scantiness, reserve, forbearance, or the like; sparsely.

    • References

    *

    Anagrams

    *