ra
re
fied
Comparative
more rarefied
Superlative
most rarefied
1
having an elevated quality, either morally or intellectually, that is far above the ordinary
- The professor's lecture was delivered in a rarefied academic style.
- She moved in rarefied circles of art and culture.
- His poetry reaches a rarefied level of beauty and insight.
- The debate was conducted in a rarefied atmosphere of mutual respect.
- They discussed philosophy in rarefied terms beyond everyday concerns.
2
(of air) containing a lower-than-average amount of oxygen
- The climbers struggled to breathe in the rarefied air at the summit of Mount Everest.
- He was unaccustomed to the rarefied air of the high-altitude environment and felt dizzy.
- The rarefied atmosphere of the observatory was essential for accurate astronomical observations.
- As they ascended, the rarefied air made each breath feel more labored and shallow.
- The rarefied environment at the mountaintop led to a dramatic decrease in available oxygen.