an utter humiliation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an utter humiliation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation that is extremely embarrassing or degrading. Example: "Losing the championship game in such a dramatic fashion was an utter humiliation for the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This was an utter humiliation, a rout that defied belief.

The Guardian - Sport

"If Mr Juncker is appointed today, it represents – after weeks of spin and bluster from the prime minister – a total failure to deliver and an utter humiliation," the Labour leader said.

The Guardian

Labour leader Ed Miliband said it had been an "utter humiliation" for the prime minister as he faced questions from MPs.

BBC

The Conservatives shadow education and health secretary Tim Yeo said the result was an "utter humiliation" for ministers and said that the vote had only been won because of the votes of Scottish MPs who had voted to impose fees on English students which would not apply north of the border.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

What promised to be a day of utter humiliation had turned into yet another day of glory.

The Guardian

"The Copts in Dalga live in utter humiliation," said a local rights activist, Ezzat Ibrahim.

The New York Times

RC A heart-searingly painful story of utter humiliation cracks me up every time.

The Guardian

On its first outing on a foreign trip, however, it led to such utter humiliation at the hands of Tony and Alastair that on return I stuffed it under my desk and it remained there gathering dust for the following 10 years.

The Guardian

The relatively high 35% turnout and utter humiliation of the loony contingent suggests a significant number of people did indeed engage with the issues.

The Guardian - Opinion

After that, the tone of the evening took a downward turn as we all made up choruses about the utter humiliation of Colin Powell, the Arab world, the press corps, and the liberals.

The New Yorker

His warnings came as Ed Miliband said Cameron was facing "utter humiliation" over the issue.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an utter humiliation" to emphasize the extreme level of embarrassment or defeat, particularly in situations where the public or personal shame is significant. Ensure that the context warrants the intensity of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "an utter humiliation" in contexts where the embarrassment or defeat is minor or insignificant. The phrase is strong and should be reserved for situations of genuine and profound shame.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an utter humiliation" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as a subject complement or object. It denotes a state or instance of extreme embarrassment. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an utter humiliation" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that signifies an experience of profound embarrassment or disgrace. While Ludwig AI confirms it's accurate, it's best used in contexts where the intensity matches the severity of the described situation, predominantly found in news and media. Alternatives like "a complete disgrace" or "a total embarrassment" may be more appropriate for less severe situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a complete embarrassment

Replaces "humiliation" with a more common synonym and removes "utter" for brevity.

a total disgrace

Substitutes "humiliation" with "disgrace", emphasizing the shamefulness of the situation.

a humiliating failure

Reverses the order and uses "humiliating" as an adjective to describe the failure.

a crushing defeat

Focuses on the aspect of defeat rather than the feeling of humiliation.

an abject failure

Replaces "utter humiliation" with "abject failure", highlighting the completeness of the failure.

a mortifying experience

Emphasizes the feeling of mortification and shame.

a severe setback

Downplays the emotional aspect and focuses on the negative impact.

a devastating blow

Highlights the destructive impact of the event.

a painful ordeal

Shifts the focus to the unpleasant and difficult nature of the experience.

a bitter disappointment

Emphasizes the feeling of disappointment and sadness.

FAQs

How can I use "an utter humiliation" in a sentence?

You can use "an utter humiliation" to describe situations that involve extreme embarrassment or defeat. For example, "Losing the final game after being heavily favored was "an utter humiliation" for the team."

What are some alternatives to "an utter humiliation"?

Alternatives to "an utter humiliation" include "a complete disgrace", "a total embarrassment", or "a crushing defeat", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a utter humiliation" instead of "an utter humiliation"?

No, it is not correct. The word "utter" begins with a vowel sound, so it requires the indefinite article "an" rather than "a". Therefore, the correct phrase is "an utter humiliation".

What distinguishes "an utter humiliation" from a regular "humiliation"?

The word "utter" intensifies the feeling of humiliation, suggesting that the experience was complete, absolute, and profound. It emphasizes the severity and depth of the embarrassment or shame compared to a simple "humiliation".