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barely vs seldom

Both 'barely' and 'seldom' are adverbs used to indicate infrequency or rarity. They can be used interchangeably in some contexts, but 'barely' often implies a closer margin to not happening at all, while 'seldom' simply means not happening often. The choice between them depends on the degree of rarity you want to convey.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 719 views

barely

The word 'barely' is a correct adverb used to indicate that something happens only just or almost not at all.

It is used to convey that something happens in a very limited or minimal way, close to not happening at all.

Examples:

  • She barely made it to the meeting on time.
  • He could barely hear the music over the noise.
  • The plant barely survived the harsh winter conditions.
  • I barely recognized her after all these years.
  • The team barely managed to score a goal in the last minute.
  • I could barely admit it to myself.
  • We barely had time to rescue you.
  • Girls he runs barely hit puberty.
  • Truthfully, I barely registered his attack.
  • Look, Jessica could barely afford food.
  • I barely survived my last Chicago winter.
  • General, we barely got away.
  • We barely survived our first encounter with those things.
  • I can barely speak for myself.
  • Gus and I could barely contain our excitement.
  • We got him breathing, but barely.
  • Yet with his wounds barely sealed...
  • And Lowry barely remembers the assault.
  • My parents barely stayed two minutes.
  • He barely spoke the entire session.
  • Jack, you barely touched your three dinners.
  • We barely understand their form of government.
  • We barely made rent this month.
  • He could barely tell me what happened.
  • They range from barely competent to deeply dangerous.

Alternatives:

  • hardly
  • scarcely
  • only just
  • almost not at all
  • narrowly

seldom

The word 'seldom' is a correct adverb used to indicate that something happens rarely or infrequently.

It is used to convey that something happens not often or only occasionally.

Examples:

  • She seldom goes to the gym.
  • He seldom eats fast food.
  • Rain seldom falls in the desert.
  • They seldom visit their relatives.
  • I seldom have time to relax.
  • These confrontations seldom result in serious violence.
  • Apologies the demands of a Lanista seldom offer respite.
  • The girls who cross the pass seldom return.
  • Logic offers a serenity humans seldom experience.
  • A force that politicians seldom care to mention.
  • Tourists seldom come to such distant place.
  • Henceforth Pan was seldom seen without it.
  • Moore seldom appeared throughout late 2003 and early 2004.
  • Unlike most Italian conductors, he seldom conducted opera.
  • But now children seldom assume their parents' occupation.
  • Therefore, acupuncture itself seldom makes the condition worse.
  • We conservatives seldom vote against conciliations.
  • Calling is seldom the best action.
  • Man seldom deals with absolute, demonstrative truths.
  • He had media exposure that third-party candidates seldom receive.
  • Useful applications seldom use such methods for downloading drivers.
  • He seldom paused to correct misunderstandings or to resent misrepresentation.
  • No wonder that tourists seldom leave disappointed.
  • Earthquakes cause an enormous damage, seldom have long-term consequences.

Alternatives:

  • rarely
  • infrequently
  • hardly ever
  • not often
  • occasionally

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