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Definitions

hardly ever

ADVERB
infrequently
Synonyms
STRONGEST
intermittently now and then occasionally rarely sparingly sporadically
WEAK
not regularly scarcely uncommonly unusually
Antonyms
STRONGEST
frequently regularly
ADVERB
little
Synonyms
STRONGEST
a little barely hardly rarely seldom
WEAK
not many not often not quite only just scarcely somewhat
Antonyms
STRONGEST
frequently
WEAK
more much
ADVERB
rarely
Synonyms
STRONGEST
barely hardly infrequently seldom
WEAK
almost never extra extraordinarily extremely finely little notably now and then on rare occasions once in a while once in blue moon remarkably scarcely ever singularly uncommon uncommonly unfrequently unoften unusually
Antonyms
WEAK
frequently regularly
ADVERB
seldom
Synonyms
STRONGEST
a few times hardly occasionally rarely scarcely sometimes sporadically
WEAK
every now and then from time to time in a few cases inhabitually irregularly little not often not very often on and off once in a blue moon once in a while scarcely ever semioccasionally uncommonly unoften unusually whimsically
Antonyms
STRONGEST
frequently regularly
WEAK
often usually
ADVERB
sporadically
Synonyms
STRONGEST
intermittently now and then occasionally rarely seldom sparingly
WEAK
hardly little not regularly once in a blue moon scarcely uncommonly unusually
Antonyms
STRONGEST
frequently regularly usually
ADVERB
uncommonly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
exceptionally extremely remarkably strangely unusually
WEAK
extra in few instances irregularly not often now and then occasionally oddly on occasion particularly peculiarly rarely scarcely ever seldom sporadically very
Antonyms
STRONGEST
normally usually
WEAK
commonly frequently

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.

Pfeiffer: But we hardly ever see the baby.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

They’re one of the least penalized teams in the country and hardly ever commit turnovers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

“I used to call them, but you can hardly ever get through unless you want to wait on the phone for 45 minutes to an hour.”

From MarketWatch • Dec. 19, 2025

Now Australia go to the second Test in Brisbane, played in a day-night format they hardly ever lose.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2025

But she hardly ever smiled, and when she talked everything came out with a hint of thunder in it.

From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk