Definitions
- Describing something that does not happen often or occurs at irregular intervals. - Referring to an event, occurrence, or situation that happens only occasionally. - Talking about a behavior or activity that is not done regularly or frequently.
- Describing something that is not common or occurs very seldom. - Referring to an object, item, or substance that is not easily found or obtained. - Talking about a situation or occurrence that is unusual or exceptional.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe something that is not common or frequent.
- 2Both words can be used to describe events, situations, or behaviors.
- 3Both words have a negative connotation, implying that something is lacking or deficient.
What is the difference?
- 1Frequency: Infrequent implies that something happens occasionally but not necessarily rarely, while rare suggests that something happens very seldom.
- 2Degree: Rare implies a higher level of scarcity than infrequent, which can still occur with some regularity.
- 3Value: Rare can imply a high value or desirability due to its scarcity, while infrequent does not carry this connotation.
- 4Context: Infrequent is more commonly used to describe events or behaviors, while rare is often used to describe objects or substances.
- 5Connotation: Infrequent has a neutral connotation, while rare can have a positive or negative connotation depending on the context.
Remember this!
Infrequent and rare are synonyms that both describe something that is not common or frequent. However, infrequent implies that something happens occasionally but not necessarily rarely, while rare suggests that something happens very seldom. Additionally, rare can imply a high value or desirability due to its scarcity, while infrequent does not carry this connotation.
