utterly identical

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utterly identical" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that two or more things are completely the same in every aspect. Example: "The two paintings were utterly identical, making it difficult to determine which one was the original."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

An angry heroine is thrust into the volatile world of her dying husband's family, which includes his "utterly identical" twin.

The New York Times

The stove is the same, the table, the picture on the wall, the view out of the window – all utterly identical.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Thus, when we say "God knows or wills X," we must distinguish the act of knowing or willing, which is identical with God and utterly the same in every possible situation, from the object X to which it is related.

SEP

Modern social and economic differentiation "implies a need for a differentiated system of public instruction to meet the needs of all social classes, [wherein] the attempt to form all citizens in a rigorously identical mold would be utterly inappropriate.

SEP

Not the brain-eating undead of movies, but a philosophical zombie, defined as physically identical to you or me but utterly lacking in internal subjective experience.

The New York Times

Apparently identical cancers in two patients may behave so unlike as to appear utterly different diseases.

The Economist

Like Rondo the two are twins, really, identical in their difficulty and their rough, sometimes off-putting love of the game they play he was utterly himself.

The New Yorker

Utterly glorious.

The Guardian - Travel

Utterly ridiculous.

Independent

A: Utterly.

The New Yorker

Utterly absurd.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utterly identical" when you want to emphasize that two or more things are not just similar, but completely indistinguishable in every way. This phrase adds a strong sense of absolute sameness.

Common error

Avoid using "utterly identical" in casual conversation or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or stilted in contexts where a simpler phrase like "exactly the same" would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly identical" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective. The adverb "utterly" modifies and strengthens the meaning of the adjective "identical", indicating a complete and absolute likeness. Ludwig confirms the grammatical correctness of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "utterly identical" is a grammatically sound phrase used to strongly emphasize the complete sameness between two or more things. Ludwig AI verifies this. Although "utterly identical" is relatively rare, its presence in reputable news and scientific sources confirms its validity in formal contexts. While simpler alternatives such as "completely the same" or "exactly alike" exist, "utterly identical" provides a stronger emphasis on absolute equivalence. When you're trying to drive home the point that two things are not just similar, but completely indistinguishable, this phrase can be the right fit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely the same

Replaces "utterly identical" with a more straightforward expression of complete sameness.

entirely the same

Uses "entirely" instead of "utterly" to convey the same degree of completeness in similarity.

perfectly indistinguishable

Focuses on the inability to tell the difference between the items being compared.

exactly alike

A simpler, more direct way of saying that two things are identical.

wholly equivalent

Emphasizes the equivalence or interchangeability of the items.

precisely the same

Highlights the precision and exactness of the similarity.

totally equivalent

Uses 'totally' to emphasize the equivalence between two entities.

indistinguishable

A succinct alternative, highlighting the inability to differentiate between entities.

duplicate

Denotes an exact copy or replica, implying complete sameness.

carbon copy

Implies being an exact replication, emphasizing a lack of uniqueness.

FAQs

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

You can use "utterly identical" to emphasize that two or more things are completely the same in every aspect. For example: "The two fingerprints were utterly identical, confirming his presence at the scene."

What are some alternatives to "utterly identical"?

You can use alternatives like "completely the same", "entirely the same", or "perfectly indistinguishable" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to use "utterly identical"?

While "identical" already implies a high degree of similarity, adding "utterly" intensifies the meaning, emphasizing the absolute and complete sameness. It's not necessarily redundant if you want to stress this aspect.

Which is correct, "utterly identical" or "very identical"?

"Utterly identical" is the correct and more emphatic choice. "Very identical" is less common and doesn't carry the same weight of absolute sameness.