utter foolishness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utter foolishness" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is extremely foolish or lacking in sense. Example: "His decision to drive drunk was utter foolishness and it resulted in serious consequences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Until then publicly obsessing about exit strategies is utter foolishness.

The Economist

"It can span from utter foolishness to extremely serious discussions," he said.

The New York Times - Style

"He wishes to apologise through me for his actions and utter foolishness and apologise to the opposing team, he let his own team down by his conduct.

Independent

LENI RIEFENSTAHL filmed "Tiefland" between 1942 and 1945 against a historical backdrop that becomes the only reason for not regarding this effort as utter foolishness.

The New York Times

In fact, in what is either a sign of stunning confidence or utter foolishness, Amherst last month announced its intent to raise $425 million to support a number of initiatives.

The New York Times

Though Jim ran a disclaimer on top of the story, pointing out that this was Jerry talking, he still printed the piece even when everyone else, including my father, thought it utter foolishness.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

This is pure foolishness.

Forbes

Complete foolishness.

Vice

Utter madness.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, he never needed to utter a boast because his 'handlers' were speaking volumes of foolishness on his behalf.

Huffington Post

Foolishness rules.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utter foolishness" to express strong disapproval or disbelief regarding a particular action or idea. It is best used when the foolishness is obvious and significant.

Common error

While acceptable, "utter foolishness" leans towards informal language. In professional or academic writing, consider more formal alternatives like "sheer folly" or "complete absurdity" to maintain a serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utter foolishness" functions as a noun phrase. It typically serves as a subject complement or object, describing something considered extremely silly or lacking good sense. As Ludwig AI states, it conveys a strong sense of disapproval.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

12%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "utter foolishness" effectively conveys a strong sense of disapproval or disbelief toward something considered exceptionally silly or nonsensical. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English, often serving to describe actions or ideas deemed stupid. While it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, it should be used judiciously in formal writing, where alternatives like "sheer folly" or "complete absurdity" might be more appropriate. The phrase’s impact lies in its emphatic dismissal of something as entirely lacking in good sense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unmitigated foolishness

Emphasizes the lack of any redeeming qualities.

sheer folly

Emphasizes the recklessness and lack of wisdom.

complete absurdity

Highlights the nonsensical and irrational nature.

pure idiocy

Stresses the lack of intelligence or understanding.

absolute lunacy

Suggests a degree of madness or irrationality.

total senselessness

Focuses on the lack of logic or reason.

downright silliness

Implies childish or trivial foolishness.

outright stupidity

Highlights the lack of intellectual capacity.

blithering idiocy

Emphasizes the complete lack of understanding with some annoyance.

arrant nonsense

Indicates complete lack of truth or meaning.

FAQs

How can I use "utter foolishness" in a sentence?

You can use "utter foolishness" to describe actions or ideas that are incredibly stupid or nonsensical. For example: "Believing that the earth is flat is "utter foolishness"".

What are some synonyms for "utter foolishness"?

Alternatives to "utter foolishness" include "sheer folly", "complete absurdity", or "pure idiocy". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "utter foolishness" formal or informal?

"Utter foolishness" leans toward the informal side. While understandable in most contexts, it's often better to use more formal phrases like "complete absurdity" or "sheer folly" in academic or professional settings.

What's the difference between "utter foolishness" and "simple foolishness"?

"Utter foolishness" implies a higher degree of stupidity or lack of sense compared to "simple foolishness". "Utter" intensifies the foolishness, suggesting it's particularly egregious.