Definitions

hardly ever

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infrequently adv.
little adv.
rarely adv.
seldom adv.
sporadically adv.
uncommonly adv.

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.

See Examples For:

hardly ever

He said it was with deep regret that the band had to cancel their slot, which they hardly ever resorted to.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

Sentiment drops as big as these hardly ever happen: Since 2000, which is how far back the data extends, these drops are at the 1.5th and 0.9th percentiles, respectively.

From MarketWatch ● May 28, 2026

Capybaras could attack if threatened, though they hardly ever do.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

At Indiana, Mendoza took nearly every snap out of the shotgun and hardly ever threw the ball after starting a play under center.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

“So it's all right for you to spend six hundred pounds on a golf-club membership you hardly ever use, but it isn't all right for me to improve our property?”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

hardly ever

Example Sentences

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