rarefied
Elevated and exclusive
Rarefied describes air or gas that has become less dense, as at high altitudes where the atmosphere thins: The rarefied air made breathing difficult.
The figurative sense dominates: rarefied refers to exclusive, elevated, or esoteric realms accessible only to a select few: the rarefied world of haute couture, rarefied academic circles.
The implication is often that such spheres are removed from ordinary life.
Measured height above reference
- thinSmall in diameter
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- stratosphereSecond atmospheric layer up
- high-altitudeElevated atmospheric position
mountainous · sparse · attenuated · tenuous · low-pressure · breathless · gaseous · wispy
Superior select group
- privilegedHaving special advantages
- selectCarefully pick from options
- restrictedLimited in scope
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
cloistered · insular · limited · guarded · unattainable · sequestered · private · discriminating
Condensed version of text
- abstruseDifficult to comprehend
- arcaneUnderstood by few
- esotericAccessible to few
- reconditeObscure and specialized
theoretical · philosophical · metaphysical · academic · scholarly · highbrow · cerebral · erudite
Improved through nurture
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
- elevatedRaised above usual level
- exquisiteFlawlessly crafted, delicate
- discerningHaving keen judgment
tasteful · polished · elegant · sublime · delicate · nuanced · aesthetic · artistic
Of hereditary nobility
- snobbishCondescending toward perceived inferiors
- privilegedHaving special advantages
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
- patricianHighborn Roman elite
supercilious · blue-blooded · genteel · pompous · upper-crust · condescending · pretentious · aloof
altitude
Measured height above reference
- thinSmall in diameter
- hypoxiaInsufficient tissue oxygenation
- stratosphereSecond atmospheric layer up
high-altitude · mountainous · sparse · attenuated · tenuous · low-pressure · breathless · gaseous · wispy · diffuse
elite
Superior select group
- privilegedHaving special advantages
- selectCarefully pick from options
- restrictedLimited in scope
inaccessible · cloistered · insular · limited · guarded · unattainable · sequestered · private · discriminating · exclusive
abstract
Condensed version of text
recondite · theoretical · philosophical · metaphysical · academic · scholarly · highbrow · cerebral · erudite · specialized
cultivated
Improved through nurture
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
- elevatedRaised above usual level
- exquisiteFlawlessly crafted, delicate
discerning · tasteful · polished · elegant · sublime · delicate · nuanced · aesthetic · artistic · graceful
aristocratic
Of hereditary nobility
- snobbishCondescending toward perceived inferiors
- privilegedHaving special advantages
- haughtyDisdainfully proud
patrician · supercilious · blue-blooded · genteel · pompous · upper-crust · condescending · pretentious · aloof · ivory-tower
unadulterated
Completely unmixed, genuine
- uncontaminatedFree from impurities
- pristinePure and untouched
- purifiedCleared of unwanted substances
distilled · unmixed · undiluted · clean · clear · concentrated · isolated · extracted · filtered · refined
- arrogancearrogant, conceited, pompous, vain, haughty
- Exclusivityexclusive, elite, VIP, members-only, private
- Mysticalethereal, otherworldly, supernatural, numinous, transcendent
- strangenessodd, weird, strange, bizarre, peculiar
- weather wordssunny, rainy, cloudy, windy, drizzle
- densitydense, air density, specific gravity, water density, high density
rarefieddense
Closely packed together
thick · compressed · concentrated · heavy · solid
rarefiedcommonplace
Unremarkable and frequent
common · ordinary · accessible · everyday · down-to-earth
rarefiedbasic
Fundamental in nature
elementary · simple · straightforward · easy · accessible