utterly astonished

USAGE SUMMARY

"utterly astonished" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong feeling of surprise or amazement. Example: The audience was utterly astonished by the magician's incredible disappearing act.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"But audiences were then utterly astonished by the skill of his acting.

The Guardian

And the admissions counselor was utterly astonished: 'How did you get this?' It was truly banned in 1960".

The New York Times - Magazine

"Had I stepped into Noah's Ark I do not think I could have been more utterly astonished," she would recall, sounding as if she had met the other Addams family.

The New York Times - Books

Mr. Boulez was conducting the BBC Symphony in the work and I was utterly astonished and thrilled to find myself suddenly distinguishing between first and second flute, first and second oboe, etc., no matter how complex the scoring of a passage.

The New York Times - Arts

Committee chairman Bernard Jenkin said: "Most people would be utterly astonished to learn that there is no attempt to count people as they enter or leave the UK.

BBC

Her electro folk track Alaska, which left celeb guest Pharrell Williams utterly astonished went viral and she found herself in the middle of a record label bidding war.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

This small moment of recorded vandalism marks this otherwise unsung soldier as the first European discoverer of an ancient construction that still, nearly 200 years on, has the power to utterly astound and astonish those who see it for the first time.

The New York Times

It is a sight utterly to astonish the unprepared, akin only perhaps to the moment when a Midwestern soybean farmer is flushed out of the Lincoln Tunnel into the canyons of Midtown Manhattan.

The New York Times - Travel

Even after nine years working with dozens of ministers, I'm astonished at such utterly brazen cynicism.

The Guardian

Chanel's intimates are tried and few, "a rather moldy lot," as one of them handsomely put it, all of long years' standing, all still astonished by but utterly devoted to their Coco.

The New Yorker

It is worth reading her actual words here: "Together with Chris Huhne, I am determined to take the lead role in driving the sustainable agenda across the whole of government, and I'm not willing to delegate this responsibility to an external body". Even after nine years working with dozens of ministers, I'm astonished at such utterly brazen cynicism.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "utterly astonished" when something is unexpected and difficult to process at first glance.

Common error

While "utterly astonished" is acceptable, avoid using it excessively in formal writing where a more understated expression like "greatly surprised" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly astonished" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of extreme surprise or amazement. This intensifies the basic adjective "astonished". This is confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "utterly astonished" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that expresses a strong feeling of surprise or amazement. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While suitable for various contexts, it’s most frequently found in news and media. When writing, remember that there exist more suitable terms depending on the formality of the context. Alternatives like "completely amazed" or "absolutely stunned" can offer similar nuances. While versatile, the phrase fits best when the speaker is legitimately shocked or greatly surprised.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly amazed

Swaps "astonished" for "amazed", keeping the same strong emphasis.

completely amazed

Emphasizes the feeling of wonder and delight more strongly than simple astonishment.

absolutely stunned

Focuses on the overwhelming and momentarily incapacitating effect of surprise.

totally flabbergasted

Highlights the speechless and bewildered aspect of being astonished.

absolutely gobsmacked

An informal term for being utterly astonished, emphasizing the shock.

entirely dumbfounded

Stresses the inability to speak or react due to extreme surprise.

thoroughly surprised

A more general expression of surprise, lacking the intensity of astonishment.

incredibly impressed

Indicates a mix of surprise and admiration.

wholly bewildered

Focuses on the confusion and perplexity that can accompany extreme surprise.

deeply moved

Suggests that the surprise also evoked a strong emotional response.

FAQs

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

You can use "utterly astonished" to describe someone's reaction to something unexpected or surprising. For example, "The audience was "utterly astonished" by the magician's final trick."

What are some alternatives to "utterly astonished"?

Alternatives include "completely amazed", "absolutely stunned", or "totally flabbergasted", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "utterly astonished" formal or informal?

"Utterly astonished" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. For more formal contexts, consider "greatly surprised" or "extremely impressed".

What's the difference between "utterly astonished" and "slightly surprised"?

"Utterly astonished" conveys a much stronger feeling of surprise and amazement than "slightly surprised", indicating a significant emotional impact.