it was utterly awful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was utterly awful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong negative opinion about an experience, event, or situation. Example: "The movie we watched last night? It was utterly awful; I couldn't wait for it to end."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Basically, if you have a poor credit score, lenders will not shun you (unless it is utterly awful); instead, they'll lend you money at a higher rate than the one paid by someone with a better credit score.

Forbes

This is because, up until Batman: Arkham Asylum swooped in, nearly every single video game starring the caped crusader was utterly awful.

The Guardian - Tech

It was absolutely awful.

BBC

England's centres have been utterly awful so far.

The Guardian - Sport

The idea we are going to allow these institutions - banks, the Queen, the House of Representatives - to have more secrecy is utterly awful".

The Guardian

It was utterly breathtaking.

Independent

It was utterly confusing".

The New Yorker

It was utterly enchanting.

Independent

It was utterly enthralling.

BBC

And it was utterly compelling.

BBC

It was utterly wrong.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, follow "it was utterly awful" with a specific detail or reason that explains the source of your dissatisfaction.

Common error

Avoid using "it was utterly awful" in situations that only warrant a mild complaint; reserve it for truly terrible experiences to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was utterly awful" functions as an emphatic declarative statement. It conveys a strong, negative judgment about a past event or experience. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was utterly awful" serves as a powerful way to express strong negativity. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and suitable for various contexts, with a slight leaning towards neutral formality. While versatile, it's best reserved for situations deserving of such intense criticism. When choosing alternatives, consider the specific nuance you wish to convey, as options like "absolutely terrible" or "completely dreadful" offer slightly different shades of meaning. When using this phrase, be sure to employ best practices and avoid common mistakes, which includes overuse in casual contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It was absolutely terrible

Replaces 'utterly awful' with 'absolutely terrible', maintaining a similar level of intensity.

It was completely dreadful

Substitutes 'utterly awful' with 'completely dreadful', offering a slightly more formal tone.

It was truly horrendous

Replaces 'utterly awful' with 'truly horrendous', emphasizing the shocking or appalling nature of the experience.

It was just the worst

Offers a more informal and emphatic way to express extreme dislike.

It was unbelievably bad

Emphasizes the extent of how bad something was, suggesting it exceeded expectations.

It was remarkably poor

Uses 'remarkably poor' to express disappointment in a more understated way.

It was a complete disaster

Frames the situation as a failure or catastrophe, implying widespread negative consequences.

It was a total nightmare

Compares the experience to a nightmare, highlighting its unpleasant and distressing qualities.

It was nothing short of a catastrophe

Uses stronger words to emphasize the extreme negativity of the experience.

It was an unmitigated disaster

Uses 'unmitigated disaster' to emphasize the complete and utter failure of something.

FAQs

What does "it was utterly awful" mean?

The phrase "it was utterly awful" expresses a strong negative sentiment, indicating that something was exceptionally bad or unpleasant.

What can I say instead of "it was utterly awful"?

You can use alternatives like "it was absolutely terrible", "it was completely dreadful", or "it was truly horrendous" depending on the context.

Is "it was utterly awful" too strong for mild disappointments?

Yes, "it was utterly awful" is a strong expression and is best reserved for truly negative or terrible experiences. Using it for minor issues may sound exaggerated.

How to use "it was utterly awful" in a sentence?

You can use "it was utterly awful" to describe a movie, a meal, an event, or any experience that you found exceptionally bad. For example, "The service at the restaurant was slow, and the food? "It was utterly awful"."