Uncommon
What it means
Unusually rare, distinctive, or notably good.
Reach for it when praising a quality that stands apart without claiming uniqueness
Her uncommon patience helped the frightened dog learn to approach.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal |
|
| literary |
-
playful
out of the ordinary
Fits when approachable informal difference fits
Careful Out of the ordinary offers only vague, faint praise.
-
everyday
rare
Fits when low frequency is the factual point
Careful Rare does not itself mean admirable.
-
everyday
unusual
Fits when deviation from the norm is neutral
Careful Unusual can be undesirable.
-
warm
Fits when the quality deserves attention
Careful Remarkable can be common but striking.
-
professional
Fits when recognizable difference matters
Careful Distinctive need not be scarce.
-
professional
Fits when quality clearly exceeds the norm
Careful Exceptional is stronger and needs evidence.
-
literary
singular
Fits when rare individuality suits elevated prose
Careful Singular can imply unique and sound archaic.
Opposites 3
- common
- ordinary
- typical
Common phrases 3
-
uncommon skill
Her uncommon skill lay in explaining risk without creating panic.
-
uncommon courage
Uncommon courage does not require pretending fear was absent.
-
not uncommon
It is not uncommon for a strong first draft to need structural revision.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated