utterly incredible

USAGE SUMMARY

"utterly incredible" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize that something is extremely unbelievable or shocking. Example: The magician's performance was utterly incredible; he made a live elephant disappear on stage in front of the entire audience.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

"Utterly incredible" says another.

The Guardian - Opinion

That is utterly incredible".

The Guardian

I found this utterly incredible.

Independent

This kind of global feedback is utterly incredible and frankly inspiring, and the power of something like this as a learning tool cannot be underestimated.

The Guardian

The twist in this story — both utterly incredible and wonderfully credible, skillfully foreshadowed and entirely psychologically earned — is so deft I'm not going to spoil it with so much as a clue.

The New York Times - Books

It's utterly incredible that, in his first speech in Brussels for Facebook, Clegg should make self-righteous speeches about "election integrity" and setting up a centre in Dublin to stop fake news and misinformation.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Utterly unbelievable.

BBC

The world also looks utterly beautiful with incredible lighting, modelling and landscaping.

The Guardian

In front of largely hidden and utterly sympathetic audiences, incredible narratives can take shape, before emerging, mostly formed, into the national discourse.

The New York Times - Magazine

Epic, incredible, and utterly unmissable: that's how we'd describe this ultimate travel bucket list.

The Times

She has a quiet but incredible intelligence and is utterly dedicated to civil liberties work.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when using "utterly incredible". While generally acceptable, it may be perceived as slightly informal in very formal or academic writing. Alternatives such as "completely unbelievable" may be more appropriate in certain contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "utterly incredible" excessively in formal reports or academic papers. While not grammatically incorrect, it can diminish the objective tone. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "remarkable" or "unexpected" to maintain a professional voice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly incredible" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective. "Utterly" modifies "incredible", amplifying its meaning and expressing a high degree of astonishment or disbelief. As Ludwig AI suggests, it emphasizes something extremely unbelievable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

21%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "utterly incredible" is a common expression used to convey strong disbelief or amazement. Linguistically, it functions as an intensifier ("utterly") modifying an adjective ("incredible"), amplifying the degree of astonishment. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it emphasizes something extremely unbelievable or shocking. While grammatically correct and frequently used in news and media, it's essential to consider the context, as more formal writing might benefit from less emotive synonyms. Related phrases like "completely unbelievable" or "absolutely astonishing" offer similar meanings, allowing for nuanced expression. Ultimately, "utterly incredible" is a powerful tool for expressing surprise, but should be used thoughtfully to match the tone and formality of the writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely unbelievable

Replaces "utterly incredible" with "completely unbelievable", focusing on the lack of believability.

absolutely astonishing

Substitutes "utterly incredible" with "absolutely astonishing", highlighting the surprising nature of something.

wholly improbable

Replaces the phrase with "wholly improbable", suggesting a low likelihood of being true.

entirely unimaginable

This alternative replaces "utterly incredible" with "entirely unimaginable", emphasizing the difficulty in conceiving the situation.

patently preposterous

Replaces with "patently preposterous", indicating the idea is obviously absurd.

genuinely remarkable

Changes to "genuinely remarkable", focusing on the positive and noteworthy aspect, while still conveying surprise.

truly astounding

Replaces "utterly incredible" with "truly astounding", placing emphasis on the amazement and wonder.

flatly impossible

This phrase, "flatly impossible", indicates an absolute certainty that something cannot occur.

beyond belief

Uses "beyond belief" as a shorter, more informal way of expressing something hard to believe.

simply defies imagination

Replaces with "simply defies imagination", emphasizing the impossibility of imagining or understanding something.

FAQs

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

Use "utterly incredible" to express astonishment or disbelief. For example, "The magician's trick was utterly incredible." It emphasizes the extreme nature of something unexpected.

What can I say instead of "utterly incredible"?

You can use alternatives like "completely unbelievable", "absolutely astonishing", or "wholly improbable" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "utterly incredible" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "utterly incredible" may be perceived as somewhat informal. In highly formal contexts, consider alternatives such as "genuinely remarkable" or "truly astounding" to maintain a more objective tone.

What's the difference between "utterly incredible" and "simply defies imagination"?

"Utterly incredible" emphasizes the disbelief or amazement caused by something, while "simply defies imagination" suggests that something is so extraordinary that it's impossible to fully comprehend or visualize it.