utterly disappointing

USAGE SUMMARY

"utterly disappointing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express extreme dissatisfaction or disappointment with something or someone. For example: The midterm results were utterly disappointing.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But Mr Bush's performance has been utterly disappointing.

The Economist

It is utterly disappointing that molecular genetic approaches have so far not yielded conclusive evidence for vulnerability or protection genes in schizophrenia.

L'Encéphale

Last week, chinadialogue, an environmental online magazine, called the efforts by the government's Ministry of Environmental Protection to protect the environment "utterly disappointing".

The New York Times

"It is utterly disappointing … that none of these key witnesses will co-operate with our request to answer questions before the Senate foreign relations committee.

The Guardian - Business

Also, there is still no reference to any form of financial compensation by Volkswagen, which I find utterly disappointing and totally unacceptable".

The Guardian - Money

America's economy seems to relish the role, continuing to post growth performances that would be utterly disappointing were they not so much better than those managed by other rich countries.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The cavalcade of failed new shows that followed was both disappointing and utterly unsurprising.

Forbes

"It would be deeply disappointing and utterly unjustifiable if Argentina put pressure on this flight to be suspended".

BBC

The refusal to listen...is nothing new...but to find in the literary section of a major newspaper an illustration of the utterly closed mind is omehow gravely disappointing.

The New Yorker

The results were hideous, malicious, vile and repugnant, but to call them disappointing is either disingenuous or utterly clueless.

Forbes

But what was perhaps most disappointing about Omega Station was how utterly unsurprising it was.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utterly disappointing" to express a strong and complete sense of dissatisfaction. Ensure that the context clearly indicates what is causing the disappointment.

Common error

While "utterly disappointing" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid overusing it in highly formal or professional writing. Consider more nuanced alternatives like "profoundly unsatisfactory" or "deeply regrettable" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly disappointing" functions as an intensifier (utterly) modifying an adjective (disappointing). According to Ludwig AI, it serves to emphasize the degree of disappointment. Examples show it being used to describe performances, results and policies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "utterly disappointing" is a commonly used phrase to express a strong sense of dissatisfaction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in a variety of writing contexts. While suitable for expressing strong feelings, it's crucial to consider the context and choose more formal alternatives in professional settings. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, wiki, and science contexts. To avoid overuse, consider semantically similar alternatives like "profoundly disappointing" or "thoroughly disappointing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

profoundly disappointing

Emphasizes the depth and significance of the disappointment, suggesting a more impactful letdown.

thoroughly disappointing

Highlights the comprehensive nature of the disappointment, implying that every aspect was unsatisfactory.

completely disappointing

Focuses on the entirety of the disappointment, indicating that there were no redeeming qualities.

entirely unsatisfactory

Shifts the focus to the lack of satisfaction, suggesting that the outcome failed to meet expectations in every way.

downright disappointing

Adds a tone of bluntness or directness to the disappointment, making it clear and unequivocal.

extremely disappointing

Stresses the high degree of disappointment experienced.

bitterly disappointing

Highlights the painful or resentful aspect of the disappointment.

sorely disappointing

Emphasizes the distress or regret caused by the disappointment.

sadly lacking

Indicates a deficiency or absence of something desirable, leading to disappointment.

woefully inadequate

Stresses the severe insufficiency or unacceptability of something.

FAQs

How to use "utterly disappointing" in a sentence?

You can use "utterly disappointing" to describe something that has failed to meet expectations in a complete and emphatic way. For example, "The performance was "utterly disappointing", lacking both energy and precision."

What can I say instead of "utterly disappointing"?

You can use alternatives like "profoundly disappointing", "thoroughly disappointing", or "completely disappointing" depending on the context.

Is "utterly disappointing" too strong of a phrase to use?

The strength of "utterly disappointing" depends on the context. It conveys a significant level of dissatisfaction, so ensure that it aligns with the severity of the situation. In some cases, a milder phrase may be more appropriate.

What is the difference between "utterly disappointing" and "slightly disappointing"?

"Utterly disappointing" indicates a complete failure to meet expectations, while "slightly disappointing" suggests only a minor shortfall. The degree of dissatisfaction is significantly different between the two phrases.