utter ignorance

USAGE SUMMARY

"utter ignorance" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone is completely unaware of something. For example, "The politician spoke with utter ignorance about the subject."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

It's utter ignorance.

The Guardian

The Bayern president was much more upset by the Italian's utter ignorance of Bundesliga regulations.

The Guardian - Sport

"Nothing is more frustrating for me," adds another, "than hearing/reading/seeing know-nothing voters expose their utter ignorance".

The Guardian

Theoretically, at least, all that rampant Googling must be an improvement over mindless channel flipping and utter ignorance.

The New York Times - Style

Newmark confessed to utter ignorance: "I'm a nerd, old-school, and the jocks and we never got along".

The New Yorker

"The explosion of hourly rates can in some ways be blamed on the utter ignorance  and arrogance of buyers of legal services," he added.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Complete ignorance".

Huffington Post

Even if I was in complete and utter Springsteen time ignorance, I could tell you that Tunnel of Love was made in the 80's.

Huffington Post

He bloviates with the best of them, but his utter disregard for or ignorance of the facts on many issues makes him dangerous.

Huffington Post

I am not sure which is more despicable--his ignorance, arrogance, or utter callousness.

Huffington Post

This was to be the third school constructed in the colony of Vancouver Island, following Governor James Douglas' call "to give a proper moral and religious training to the children of the settlers who are growing up in ignorance and the utter neglect of all their duties to God and society".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utter ignorance" to express a strong and complete lack of knowledge or understanding, particularly when emphasizing the negative consequences of this lack.

Common error

While "utter ignorance" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid using it in highly formal or professional settings where a more diplomatic phrase like "lack of familiarity" or "limited understanding" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utter ignorance" functions as a noun phrase, where "utter" intensifies the noun "ignorance". Ludwig AI confirms it is correct and usable in written English, serving to highlight a complete lack of knowledge. Examples from Ludwig show it used to criticize statements, actions, or policies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "utter ignorance" is a phrase used to express a complete and often critical lack of knowledge or understanding. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While the phrase is considered correct, it's important to be mindful of the intended audience and the context when using it. Related phrases like "complete lack of knowledge" or "profound lack of awareness" can offer alternative ways to express the same concept with varying degrees of intensity. Be aware of the subtle differences between "utter ignorance" and "simple ignorance" to appropriately convey your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unmitigated ignorance

Replaces "utter" with "unmitigated" to convey a similar sense of completeness.

complete lack of knowledge

Emphasizes the absence of knowledge, replacing "utter" with "complete" for intensification.

total lack of understanding

Focuses on the absence of comprehension rather than just information.

complete unawareness

Focuses on being completely oblivious or not knowing about something.

sheer incomprehension

Highlights the inability to understand something, replacing "utter" with "sheer" for emphasis.

absolute cluelessness

Uses a more informal term to describe a complete lack of awareness.

profound lack of awareness

Emphasizes a deep or significant absence of knowledge.

blank incomprehension

Suggests a complete and unyielding inability to grasp something.

stark unfamiliarity

Highlights a sharp or distinct lack of knowledge or experience.

pure nescience

Uses a more formal and less common term for lack of knowledge.

FAQs

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

You can use "utter ignorance" to describe someone's complete lack of knowledge about a subject. For example, "His comments displayed "utter ignorance" of the economic situation."

What's a less harsh way to say "utter ignorance"?

If you want to be less direct, you could use phrases like "lack of familiarity" or "limited understanding" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "utter ignorance"?

It's appropriate when you want to strongly emphasize someone's complete lack of knowledge or understanding, particularly when it leads to negative consequences or poor decisions. However, be mindful of your audience and the situation, as it can be perceived as harsh.

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

"Utter ignorance" implies a complete and often inexcusable lack of knowledge, while "simple ignorance" suggests a more সাধারণ or সাধারণ absence of information that might be understandable or forgivable.