utter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the act of expressing something verbally or to indicate that something is complete or absolute. Example: "She was so frustrated that she uttered a loud sigh of exasperation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Society now compels us to hold tobacco companies in utter contempt, which is fair enough, but I have to be honest and say I could never hate the Benson and Hedges brand, not when they footed the bill for appearances of the likes of Roger Harper, Abdul Qadir, Graeme LaBrooy and Mohammad Wasim.

The Guardian - Sport

The best of America was the best of the world … France was a land, England was a people, but America, having about it still that quality of the idea, was harder to utter – it was the graves at Shiloh and the tired, drawn, nervous faces of its great men, and the country boys dying in the Argonne for a phrase that was empty before their bodies withered.

The Guardian - Books

Andrew Teacher, spokesman for the British Property Federation, said: "At a time where we need the freedom for people to invest in regeneration projects to create new jobs, listing the MK Centre is utter madness.

The Guardian - Arts

"This poll is such utter, utter bilge," he said.

The Guardian

It has long since been established that what the paper reported as facts, were utter rubbish.

The Guardian - Opinion

Deliberately structured like a western, American Sniper's climax pits Kyle against Mustafa, an Iraqi sniper who does not utter a single word throughout the entire film.

The Guardian - Film

Constituency polls in the past 48 hours have suggested both men could lose their seats at the next election, but Clegg dismissed the Survation poll in his Sheffield Hallam seat as "complete and utter nonsense", saying it bore no relation to his experience on the ground.

The Guardian

The key might be in the utter banality of the visual of got cut.

The Guardian - Opinion

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

The "make-up" of the three Cabinet ministers is as close an approximation as possible to the features, dress, and manners of the originals, and the fun of the thing consists partly in placing them in ridiculous situations, and partly in making them utter ludicrous exaggerations of the sentiments which they are supposed to profess or act upon in their public conduct.

The Guardian

Which in turn will mean utter fucking chaos as and when a train may or may not actually turn the fuck up!

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utter" to emphasize the completeness or extremity of a situation or feeling. For example, "The project was an utter failure" conveys a stronger sense of failure than simply saying "The project failed."

Common error

While "utter" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound less sophisticated. Try varying your vocabulary with synonyms like "complete", "absolute", or "total" to add nuance and avoid repetition.

Linguistic Context

The word "utter" functions primarily as an intensifier when used as an adjective, emphasizing the extent or degree of a noun (e.g., "utter nonsense"). As a verb, it denotes the act of speaking or making a sound. Ludwig AI confirms its proper use in both forms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Opinion

25%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "utter" functions as both an adjective to emphasize the completeness of something (e.g., "utter chaos") and a verb meaning to speak or pronounce. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the word is considered grammatically correct, has a high frequency and is used neutrally across various contexts, particularly in news, opinion pieces, and sports reporting. When used as an adjective, alternative words include "complete", "absolute", and "total". Remember to use "utter" to add emphasis, but avoid overuse to maintain writing sophistication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolute

Focuses on the completeness and lack of qualification.

total

Highlights the full extent or degree of something.

complete

Emphasizes the thoroughness and entirety of something.

express

Refers to conveying thoughts or feelings through words or actions.

articulate

Suggests expressing something clearly and effectively.

voice

Highlights the act of giving expression through sound.

verbalize

Suggests putting thoughts or feelings into words.

pronounce

Implies a formal or distinct way of speaking or declaring.

vocalize

Highlights the act of making sounds with the voice.

emit

Focuses on producing a sound or noise.

FAQs

How to use "utter" in a sentence?

You can use "utter" as an adjective to emphasize a state or condition, for example, "The meeting was an "utter waste of time"". As a verb, it means to speak or pronounce something, as in, "She didn't "utter a word" during the presentation".

What can I say instead of "utter"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "complete", "total", or "absolute" when using it as an adjective. If you mean to speak, use "express", "pronounce" or "verbalize".

Which is correct, "utter failure" or "complete failure"?

Both "utter failure" and "complete failure" are correct and commonly used. The choice between them often depends on personal preference and the specific nuance you want to convey. Both emphasize the thoroughness of the failure.

What's the difference between "utter" and "express"?

"Utter" as a verb means to speak or pronounce, while "express" means to convey a thought or feeling through words, actions, or other means. You might "utter" a sentence to "express" your opinion.