utterly frightening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utterly frightening" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely scary or alarming. Example: "The horror movie was utterly frightening, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Scaggs looks as if he's at the tail end of one very, very unhappy bender, his chill utterly frightening.

The New York Times - Arts

The level of disregard is utterly frightening.

Huffington Post

It can be emotionally painful and utterly frightening.

Huffington Post

Parker, on the other hand, was utterly frightening.

Vice

What women are doing to their bodies is so utterly frightening - and, more importantly, so distracting.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"They are utterly frightened of the very idea of school and have not gone back since that day last September.

Unicef

These two are utterly businesslike, frightening, and far more commanding.

The New Yorker

Certainly, the ride's video promo utterly fails to be frightening.

The Guardian - Film

It was literally inconceivable, and this is what made it frightening: death was utterly definitive, even if rather ill-defined.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In the article, Dr. Boden and Dr. Diamond observe, "The notion that television viewers inspired by such an ad would go to their physicians and request not only a stent but a specific brand and model of stent is frightening, if not utterly absurd".

The New York Times

Tsiolkas writes visceral, rhythmic, utterly convincing prose, and both the rage and the tenderness of his hero are palpable and frightening.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation or event that evokes extreme fear, use "utterly frightening" to emphasize the intensity of the feeling, such as in describing horror movies or traumatic experiences.

Common error

Avoid using "utterly frightening" to describe mildly unsettling situations, as this can dilute the impact of the phrase and make your writing seem exaggerated or insincere. Reserve it for genuinely terrifying scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly frightening" functions as an adverb-adjective combination that modifies a noun or pronoun. The adverb "utterly" intensifies the adjective "frightening", indicating a high degree of fear or alarm. This construction is confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

14%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "utterly frightening" is a grammatically correct and effectively used adverb-adjective combination to describe something causing intense fear. According to Ludwig, it is most commonly found in News & Media contexts, as well as Science and Formal & Business writings. While the frequency is uncommon, authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian use it to convey a strong sense of alarm. Alternatives include "completely terrifying" and "absolutely horrifying". Use this phrase to accurately describe scenarios inducing extreme fear, avoiding overuse in mild situations. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely terrifying

Replaces "utterly" with "completely" and "frightening" with "terrifying", maintaining a similar level of intensity.

absolutely horrifying

Substitutes "utterly" with "absolutely" and "frightening" with "horrifying", slightly shifting the focus to the horrific nature of the fear.

totally alarming

Changes "utterly" to "totally" and "frightening" to "alarming", suggesting a sense of danger and urgency.

incredibly scary

Replaces "utterly" with "incredibly" and "frightening" with "scary", making it slightly less formal.

exceptionally frightening

Uses "exceptionally" instead of "utterly", emphasizing the unusual degree of fear.

remarkably terrifying

Substitutes "utterly" with "remarkably" and "frightening" with "terrifying", highlighting the noteworthy level of fear.

unbelievably frightening

Emphasizes the surprising degree of fear; something is so frightening that it is hard to believe.

intensely frightening

Highlights the high degree of intensity of fear.

terribly frightening

Replaces "utterly" with "terribly", conveying a strong sense of something causing great fear.

awfully frightening

Uses "awfully" in place of "utterly", indicating a significant degree of fear.

FAQs

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

You can use "utterly frightening" to describe something that causes extreme fear or alarm. For example, "The abandoned house was "utterly frightening", filled with shadows and eerie sounds."

What's the difference between "utterly frightening" and "slightly scary"?

"Utterly frightening" describes something that causes a high level of fear or terror, while "slightly scary" suggests something is only mildly unsettling. The intensity of the emotion is the key difference.

Which is more intense, "utterly frightening" or "somewhat frightening"?

"Utterly frightening" is significantly more intense. "Somewhat frightening" implies a mild degree of fear, while "utterly frightening" conveys extreme terror.

What can I say instead of "utterly frightening"?

You can use alternatives such as "completely terrifying", "absolutely horrifying", or "totally alarming", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.