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

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

Earnings season is effectively behind us, so fundamental drivers are likely to be few and far between.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

Studies of the brain during pregnancy are few and far between - but more research is needed into this pivotal time in women's lives, she adds.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

Before the Scientific Revolution facts were few and far between: they were handmade, bespoke rather than mass produced, they were poorly distributed, they were often unreliable.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

few and far between

Example Sentences

Related Words