utterly atrocious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utterly atrocious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely bad or of very poor quality. Example: "The service at the restaurant was utterly atrocious, leaving us disappointed and frustrated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby was an utterly atrocious act, but that doesn't in any way excuse the UK's security services if they were involved in the torture of a British national overseas.

The Guardian

Randy was negative, Paula couldn't find much of anything to say and Simon said it was "utterly atrocious".

Huffington Post

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

But even I, the Oscar the Grouch of club culture content, can make an exception for "Smooth," which is a song that like my mother's bacon-wrapped, cheese-stuffed chicken breast dinners is somehow endlessly compelling and utterly atrocious.

Vice

The short version: Kevin & Perry Go Large is an utterly atrocious film that fails to generate a single laugh in its mercifully short 82 minute running time and will hopefully never be viewed by anyone ever again.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Absolutely atrocious.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's absolutely atrocious.

The Guardian - Sport

Utterly horrible".

BBC

Utterly terrible.

Vice

After a trial in April, an all-woman jury agreed that Francis's behavior was "atrocious and utterly intolerable".

The New York Times - Magazine

According to Alabama law, to be guilty of outrage typically requires conduct "so outrageous in character and extreme in degree as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency so as to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in civilized society".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utterly atrocious" to express a strong negative judgment, particularly when emphasizing the shocking or appalling nature of something. Ensure the context aligns with the intensity of the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "utterly atrocious" in situations that warrant a milder critique. The phrase's strong connotation can be disproportionate for minor issues, making your assessment seem overly dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly atrocious" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective. It modifies a noun, emphasizing the extreme negativity or poor quality of the thing being described, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "utterly atrocious" is a grammatically correct expression used to convey a strong negative sentiment. It's relatively rare but appropriate for use in news and media contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig. When using this phrase, consider the context to avoid overstating the negativity. Alternatives like "absolutely dreadful" or "completely awful" may be more suitable in milder situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly dreadful

Mirrors the structure of the original phrase while substituting "atrocious" with a synonym.

absolutely terrible

Emphasizes the severe and complete nature of the badness.

absolutely dreadful

Emphasizes the severe unpleasantness or inferiority of something.

completely awful

Highlights the poor quality or disagreeable nature of something.

totally appalling

Suggests a shocking or horrifying degree of badness.

thoroughly terrible

Underscores the comprehensive and extreme nature of the negativity.

downright awful

Suggests a straightforward and undeniable level of poorness.

completely unacceptable

Indicates that something fails to meet the minimum standards of acceptability.

simply the worst

Highlights something as being unequivocally the poorest in quality or performance.

wholly inadequate

Points out the complete insufficiency of something to meet the required needs or standards.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "utterly atrocious" in a sentence?

Use "utterly atrocious" to describe something exceptionally bad or of very poor quality. For example, "The service at the restaurant was utterly atrocious, leaving us disappointed".

What are some alternatives to using "utterly atrocious"?

You can use alternatives like "absolutely dreadful", "completely awful", or "totally appalling" depending on the context.

Is "utterly atrocious" formal or informal?

"Utterly atrocious" leans towards a more expressive register but is acceptable in many contexts. However, consider the formality of your audience; in very formal settings, you might opt for a more neutral phrase.

What makes "utterly atrocious" different from "atrocious"?

Adding "utterly" intensifies the adjective "atrocious", emphasizing the extreme degree of badness. "Atrocious" alone describes something terrible, but "utterly atrocious" suggests something is exceptionally and completely terrible.