Rarefied
adjective
Not easily available or accessible; exclusive.
The topics discussed at the conference were too rarefied for the average person.
Often appears as...
- rarefied airs
- rarefied circle
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Having less oxygen than usual, like at high altitudes.
Climbers need to acclimatise themselves to the rarefied air on the mountain's peak.
Often appears as...
- rarefied air
- rarefied atmosphere
Usage tips
Neutral
adjective
Distinguished or stylish in a manner considered dignified and elevated.
He came from a rarefied social background that influenced his lifestyle and choices.
Often appears as...
- rarefied style
- rarefied taste
Usage tips
Approving
adjective
Not easily available or accessible; exclusive.
The topics discussed at the conference were too rarefied for the average person.
Often appears as...
- rarefied airs
- rarefied circle
Usage tips
Formal
adjective
Having less oxygen than usual, like at high altitudes.
Climbers need to acclimatise themselves to the rarefied air on the mountain's peak.
Often appears as...
- rarefied air
- rarefied atmosphere
Usage tips
Neutral
adjective
Distinguished or stylish in a manner considered dignified and elevated.
He came from a rarefied social background that influenced his lifestyle and choices.
Often appears as...
- rarefied style
- rarefied taste
Usage tips
Approving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Social Exclusivity
Used to imply a sense of privilege or belonging to a select group with restricted access.
Membership in this club is considered rarefied, reserved for the wealthy elite.
Pro Tip 2/3Intellectual Depth
Describes topics or discussions that are complex and understood by a specialized audience.
His rarefied dissertation on quantum mechanics gained admiration from experts.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Mainstream
Indicates something is not common or popular in everyday usage.
She has a taste for rarefied music genres most people haven't heard of.
Pro Tip 1/3Social Exclusivity
Used to imply a sense of privilege or belonging to a select group with restricted access.
Membership in this club is considered rarefied, reserved for the wealthy elite.
Pro Tip 2/3Intellectual Depth
Describes topics or discussions that are complex and understood by a specialized audience.
His rarefied dissertation on quantum mechanics gained admiration from experts.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Mainstream
Indicates something is not common or popular in everyday usage.
She has a taste for rarefied music genres most people haven't heard of.
Pro Tip 1/3Social Exclusivity
Used to imply a sense of privilege or belonging to a select group with restricted access.
Membership in this club is considered rarefied, reserved for the wealthy elite.
Pro Tip 2/3Intellectual Depth
Describes topics or discussions that are complex and understood by a specialized audience.
His rarefied dissertation on quantum mechanics gained admiration from experts.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Mainstream
Indicates something is not common or popular in everyday usage.
She has a taste for rarefied music genres most people haven't heard of.
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Video examples
Wingham Rowan: A new...
So why do we have this disparity between these incredibly sophisticated markets at the top of the economy that are increasingly sucking more and more activity and resource out of the main economy into this rarefied level of trading, and what the rest of us have?
Video examples
Why should you read Kurt...
Tralfamadorians, the aliens who crop up in many of his books, see all moments at once. They “can see where each star has been and where it is going, so that the heavens are filled with rarefied, luminous spaghetti.” But although they can see all of time,
Video examples
Frans Lanting &...
to you about a new adventure an adventure with cheetahs now of course cheetahs are members of this rarefied family of big cats and there's only seven of them but even that in that rarefied family cheetahs are different yeah they're not like lions the big
Video examples
Wingham Rowan: A new...
So why do we have this disparity between these incredibly sophisticated markets at the top of the economy that are increasingly sucking more and more activity and resource out of the main economy into this rarefied level of trading, and what the rest of us have?
Video examples
Why should you read Kurt...
Tralfamadorians, the aliens who crop up in many of his books, see all moments at once. They “can see where each star has been and where it is going, so that the heavens are filled with rarefied, luminous spaghetti.” But although they can see all of time,
Video examples
Frans Lanting &...
to you about a new adventure an adventure with cheetahs now of course cheetahs are members of this rarefied family of big cats and there's only seven of them but even that in that rarefied family cheetahs are different yeah they're not like lions the big
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Harmony Korine
American Director
I always wanted the films to play in malls, and I wanted as many people as possible to see them. I never want them to be marginalized in the kind of rarefied, elitist world. I always have hopes that the films will permeate culture in a big way. A lot of times, I'm wrong, but it's always the hope.
Quote examples
Rory Kinnear
English Actor
The more rarefied a life you live, the easier it is to think that those who don't share it could be demonised. To find the common humanity becomes more of a struggle the more you surround yourself with nice things.
Quote examples
Gus Van Sant
American Director
The area of teenage life is not necessarily rarefied; we've all gone through that period. It's not as rarefied as a western or a space adventure or a gangster film, but it has its own dynamic.
Quote examples
Paul Wellstone
American Politician
What the poor, the weak, and the inarticulate desperately require is power, organization, and a sense of identity and purpose, not rarefied advice of political scientists.
Quote examples
Jim Crace
English Writer
For all the splendours of the world's greatest galleries, visitors are likely to be kept at arm's length, spectators of a world that can seem too rarefied to let them in.
Quote examples
Joan Van Ark
American Actress
When you're on a long running series, you reach a very rarefied, high oxygen area and after a while to keep a show on the air they have to make some very drastic changes.
Quote examples
Kathryn Bigelow
American Director
Whereas painting is a more rarefied art form, with a limited audience, I recognized film as this extraordinary social tool that could reach tremendous numbers of people.
Quote examples
George Packer
American Novelist
A curious thing about this rarefied world is that bloggers are almost unfailingly contemptuous toward everyone except one another.
Quote examples
Simon Schama
British Historian
As a schoolboy, poetry seemed defined by preciousness. It was all very rarefied.
Quote examples
Phyllida Lloyd
English Director
In London, it's quite a rarefied activity to be on an analyst's couch.
Quote examples
Harmony Korine
American Director
I always wanted the films to play in malls, and I wanted as many people as possible to see them. I never want them to be marginalized in the kind of rarefied, elitist world. I always have hopes that the films will permeate culture in a big way. A lot of times, I'm wrong, but it's always the hope.
Quote examples
Rory Kinnear
English Actor
The more rarefied a life you live, the easier it is to think that those who don't share it could be demonised. To find the common humanity becomes more of a struggle the more you surround yourself with nice things.
Quote examples
Gus Van Sant
American Director
The area of teenage life is not necessarily rarefied; we've all gone through that period. It's not as rarefied as a western or a space adventure or a gangster film, but it has its own dynamic.
Quote examples
Paul Wellstone
American Politician
What the poor, the weak, and the inarticulate desperately require is power, organization, and a sense of identity and purpose, not rarefied advice of political scientists.
Quote examples
Jim Crace
English Writer
For all the splendours of the world's greatest galleries, visitors are likely to be kept at arm's length, spectators of a world that can seem too rarefied to let them in.
Quote examples
Joan Van Ark
American Actress
When you're on a long running series, you reach a very rarefied, high oxygen area and after a while to keep a show on the air they have to make some very drastic changes.
Quote examples
Kathryn Bigelow
American Director
Whereas painting is a more rarefied art form, with a limited audience, I recognized film as this extraordinary social tool that could reach tremendous numbers of people.
Quote examples
George Packer
American Novelist
A curious thing about this rarefied world is that bloggers are almost unfailingly contemptuous toward everyone except one another.
Quote examples
Simon Schama
British Historian
As a schoolboy, poetry seemed defined by preciousness. It was all very rarefied.
Quote examples
Phyllida Lloyd
English Director
In London, it's quite a rarefied activity to be on an analyst's couch.
Example 1 of 10
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