utterly lonely

USAGE SUMMARY

'utterly lonely' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence to describe something that is very lonely, isolated, and desolate. For example, "He felt utterly lonely when the last of his family members moved away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

At other times, however, he has seemed utterly lonely.

The New York Times

"They looked utterly lonely and miserable," Ms. Hunter said.

The New York Times

Balam Acab makes spooky, dark, organic ambient music, and Laurel Halo makes shimmering music that's melancholic and mildly abrasive and utterly lonely.

The New York Times - Arts

Photo booth cam is an utterly lonely party—a dingy, blue-tinged visual about lonely, modern life.

Vice

Both men and women discussed how they lacked the appropriate vocabulary to describe how they were feeling, both to themselves and to others (see also [ 9]):- DP01m: I felt so utterly lonely.. and I couldn't reach out to explain to people.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Utterly alone.

The Guardian - Film

You are utterly, utterly alone.

Vice

Lonely lone.

The New Yorker

Not being able to fit into the heterosexual or homosexual worlds left me utterly lost and hopelessly lonely.

Huffington Post

There are times I feel frustrated, lonely, and utterly despondent, but it's in these moments that I remind myself that I found my voice and my passion on the margins of society.

Huffington Post

Lonely, socially isolated, utterly adrift without the career that had defined me for so long, I tried to move on and do the writing I'd convinced myself I wanted to do.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utterly lonely" to emphasize a profound sense of isolation and solitude, going beyond simple loneliness. It's best suited for describing feelings or situations where the sense of loneliness is complete and overwhelming.

Common error

Avoid using "utterly lonely" in everyday situations where 'lonely' alone would suffice. The phrase is strong and best reserved for situations where the feeling is truly profound, lest it lose its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly lonely" functions primarily as a descriptive adjective phrase. It modifies a noun (either stated or implied) to intensify the feeling of loneliness. As Ludwig AI highlights, it effectively describes something that is very lonely, isolated, and desolate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "utterly lonely" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey a deep sense of isolation. It functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, primarily found in News & Media and sometimes in Scientific contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's effective in describing something that is very lonely and desolate. While not frequently used, its impact is strong, making it suitable for situations where a profound sense of loneliness needs to be conveyed. Alternatives like "completely isolated" or "totally alone" offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deeply lonely

Emphasizes the intensity of the feeling of loneliness.

intensely lonely

Highlights the strength of the feeling of loneliness, suggesting a powerful sense of isolation.

totally alone

Emphasizes the lack of companionship and support, conveying a sense of being by oneself.

hopelessly alone

Suggests a lack of hope for finding companionship or connection, highlighting a sense of despair.

completely isolated

Focuses on the physical or social separation, highlighting a state of being entirely cut off from others.

exceptionally lonely

Highlights the unusual or remarkable degree of loneliness experienced.

exceedingly lonely

Emphasizes the extent and magnitude of the loneliness, conveying a sense of being exceptionally isolated.

desperately lonely

Conveys a sense of urgency and anguish associated with the loneliness, highlighting a strong desire for connection.

profoundly isolated

Highlights the depth and intensity of the isolation, suggesting a deep sense of disconnection.

singularly alone

Indicates a unique and profound state of being alone, emphasizing the distinctiveness of the isolation.

FAQs

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

You can use "utterly lonely" to describe a state of complete and profound isolation. For example, "After the divorce, he felt "utterly lonely" in his empty house".

What's the difference between "utterly lonely" and "deeply lonely"?

"Utterly lonely" emphasizes the completeness of the loneliness, while "deeply lonely" highlights the intensity of the emotion. Both convey a strong sense of isolation, but "utterly lonely" focuses on the state of being completely alone.

Are there any situations where using "utterly lonely" might be inappropriate?

While grammatically correct, "utterly lonely" can sound overly dramatic in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "really lonely" or "quite lonely" in less formal contexts.

What can I say instead of "utterly lonely" to express a similar feeling?

Alternatives include "completely isolated", "totally alone", or "profoundly isolated", each emphasizing a slightly different aspect of the experience of loneliness.