utterly amusing

USAGE SUMMARY

"utterly amusing" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to describe something that is very amusing or funny. For example: "The clown's antics at the circus were utterly amusing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mr. Baryshnikov, on a break from his own rehearsals last week, explained why he admired Mr. O'Connor's talent: "His works are deeply personal, quirky and utterly amusing, but beneath the humor lies tenderness and truth".

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

His descriptions of what it was like to fly 60 bombing missions over Europe are both harrowing and utterly relaxed, even amusing — this is, after all, the man who introduced us to Yossarian and Major Major and Hungry Joe.

Forbes

With a museum-piece restaurant like this, the difference between timeless and somewhat tired — between utterly delighting and intermittently amusing — is in its fluency and diction.

The New York Times - Food

It was utterly pathetic but derisorily amusing".

BBC

Discovering Cleese had left again: amusing, but utterly useless in terms of making the sketch happen.

Vice

Years on, the N64's failures fall somewhere between the amusing and the utterly crazy, but they also feel daring, admirable even.

Vice

The end result is a masterpiece: informative, amusing, insightful - and utterly compelling.

The Guardian - Books

It's a bit of an in-joke, an earnest black and white movie with an utterly absurd premise, but is still amusing.

Independent

So far, the most memorable Obama mockery has ranged from the utterly atrocious (see: the "Barack the Magic Negro" song parody debacle) to the mildly amusing (Fred Armisen's competent but guffaw-free impersonation of Obama on Saturday Night Live).

Huffington Post

It's an amusing game to make lists of words or phrases that would have been utterly meaningless only a generation ago.

The Guardian - Books

Michael Legg and Robin Ince both keep very amusing blogs, though, and I'm passionate about two podcasts: John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman's The Bugle, which is utterly brilliant, and the Bill Maher topical show, Real Time.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when using "utterly amusing"; it is suitable for both informal and slightly formal settings, depending on the overall tone.

Common error

Avoid overusing "utterly amusing", especially in close proximity to other intensifiers. Vary your descriptive language to maintain reader engagement and prevent the phrase from losing its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly amusing" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe something that is very funny and enjoyable. As Ludwig AI explains, it is correct and can be used in written English to describe something that evokes a high degree of amusement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "utterly amusing" is a grammatically sound and accepted way to describe something that is extremely funny and delightful. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. While the phrase is not exceedingly common, it appears primarily in news and media contexts. To enhance your writing, consider varying your descriptive language to avoid overuse and to keep your audience engaged. Alternatives such as "completely hilarious" or "absolutely comical" can provide nuanced expressions of amusement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely hilarious

Replaces 'amusing' with 'hilarious' emphasizing a stronger sense of funniness and uses 'completely' instead of 'utterly'.

genuinely amusing

Adds an element of authenticity or sincerity to the amusement. Uses 'genuinely' instead of 'utterly'.

absolutely comical

Substitutes 'amusing' with 'comical', suggesting something is funny due to its absurdity or ridiculousness and uses 'absolutely' instead of 'utterly'.

extremely funny

Uses the more common word 'funny' instead of 'amusing', making it more straightforward. Uses 'extremely' instead of 'utterly'.

incredibly humorous

Replaces 'amusing' with 'humorous', which is slightly more formal, and uses 'incredibly' instead of 'utterly'.

thoroughly entertaining

Replaces the focus on amusement with entertainment, indicating something is enjoyable and engaging. Uses 'thoroughly' instead of 'utterly'.

entirely delightful

Shifts from amusement to delight, emphasizing pleasure and joy. Uses 'entirely' instead of 'utterly'.

unquestionably entertaining

Highlights the indisputable nature of the entertainment value. Uses 'unquestionably' instead of 'utterly'.

perfectly whimsical

Emphasizes the playful and fanciful nature of something amusing, using 'perfectly' instead of 'utterly'.

remarkably droll

Uses 'droll' to suggest a dry, understated humor, using 'remarkably' instead of 'utterly'.

FAQs

How can I use "utterly amusing" in a sentence?

You can use "utterly amusing" to describe something you find incredibly funny or delightful. For instance, "The comedian's performance was utterly amusing." or "The children found the puppet show utterly amusing".

What are some alternatives to "utterly amusing"?

Alternatives to "utterly amusing" include "completely hilarious", "absolutely comical", or "thoroughly entertaining", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "utterly amusing" formal or informal?

"Utterly amusing" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it leans slightly towards the formal side due to the intensifier "utterly". The appropriateness depends on the overall tone and audience.

What does "utterly" emphasize in the phrase "utterly amusing"?

In the phrase "utterly amusing", "utterly" serves to intensify the adjective "amusing", indicating that something is not just amusing, but completely and absolutely so. It highlights the depth and extent of the amusement.