rarefied

adjective
UK: /ˈreə.rɪ.faɪd/
US: /ˈrer.ə.faɪd/

  1. Made less dense or thinner, especially air or gas

    1. The air is rarefied at the mountain's peak, making it hard to breathe.
    2. The rarefied atmosphere of the high-altitude observatory allowed for clearer astronomical observations.

  2. Highly refined or elevated; of high moral or intellectual value

    1. She has a rarefied taste in art, preferring abstract sculptures.
    2. His rarefied intellect made it difficult for him to connect with ordinary people, in reality.

  3. Understood or appreciated by only a few people; esoteric

    1. The discussion became rarefied, with only the experts understanding the details.
    2. Her rarefied humor often went over the heads of most of her audience, quite funny.

Synonyms

thin sublime ethereal elevated exalted refined esoteric abstract

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "rarefied" in English means: Made less dense or thinner, especially air or gas, Highly refined or elevated; of high moral or intellectual value, Understood or appreciated by only a few people; esoteric.

The phonetic transcription of "rarefied" is /ˈreə.rɪ.faɪd/ in British English and /ˈrer.ə.faɪd/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "rarefied": thin, sublime, ethereal, elevated, exalted, refined, esoteric, abstract.

Example usage of "rarefied": "The air is rarefied at the mountain's peak, making it hard to breathe.". More examples on the page.