utterly obnoxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utterly obnoxious" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that is extremely unpleasant or offensive. Example: "The movie was filled with utterly obnoxious characters that made it hard to enjoy the plot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

He was my friend, and I deeply resent the use of his name in a context that he would find so utterly obnoxious.

The New York Times

She refuses to believe that Bend'Or was a boor and a thicko, asking: "Why would she have associated herself with someone who was utterly obnoxious?" (Answer: women sleep with obnoxious men all the time).

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It's rude, condescending and utterly obnoxious.

Huffington Post

For someone whose goal is to be utterly obnoxious, Hester is quite charming.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Absolutely NEVER act obnoxious.

WikiHow

It's hard to comprehend what such a sorcerer ever saw in the feckless Rebecca, who is utterly vulnerable to the machinations of Jericho's daughters — Audrey, a C.I.A. torturer turned nun, and her indefatigably obnoxious sister, Pamela.

The New York Times - Books

And "obnoxious".

The Times

It's too obnoxious".

The New York Times

It's obnoxious.

The Guardian

Utterly glorious.

The Guardian - Travel

"This isn't obnoxious.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "utterly obnoxious", ensure the context clearly warrants such a strong term to avoid exaggerating the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "utterly obnoxious" in everyday casual conversation, as it can sound overly dramatic or exaggerated. Consider milder alternatives like "very annoying" or "quite unpleasant" for less formal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly obnoxious" functions as an intensifier (utterly) modifying an adjective (obnoxious). This combination serves to strongly emphasize the unpleasant or offensive nature of something. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "utterly obnoxious" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that combines an intensifier with a negative adjective to express strong disapproval. According to Ludwig AI, this combination serves to strongly emphasize the unpleasant or offensive nature of something and is mostly found in News & Media. Although appropriate, it is advised to use this phrase cautiously in casual conversation, as the intensity could be seen as overly dramatic. Consider milder alternatives such as "very annoying" or "quite unpleasant" in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely intolerable

Replaces "obnoxious" with "intolerable" and "utterly" with "completely", emphasizing the unbearable nature.

absolutely dreadful

Uses "dreadful" instead of "obnoxious" and "absolutely" for emphasis, focusing on the unpleasantness.

thoroughly offensive

Substitutes "obnoxious" with "offensive" and "utterly" with "thoroughly", highlighting the causing of offense.

totally unbearable

Replaces "obnoxious" with "unbearable" and "utterly" with "totally", stressing the inability to withstand.

entirely disagreeable

Uses "disagreeable" instead of "obnoxious" and "entirely" for emphasis, focusing on the unpleasantness.

exceptionally irritating

Substitutes "obnoxious" with "irritating" and "utterly" with "exceptionally", highlighting the causing of annoyance.

remarkably unpleasant

Replaces "obnoxious" with "unpleasant" and "utterly" with "remarkably", stressing the disagreeableness.

incredibly annoying

Uses "annoying" instead of "obnoxious" and "incredibly" for emphasis, focusing on the causing of irritation.

simply awful

Substitutes "obnoxious" with "awful" and "utterly" with "simply", highlighting the badness.

downright nasty

Replaces "obnoxious" with "nasty" and "utterly" with "downright", emphasizing the unpleasant and unkind nature.

FAQs

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

You can use "utterly obnoxious" to describe someone or something extremely unpleasant or offensive. For example, "The movie was filled with utterly obnoxious characters."

What are some alternatives to "utterly obnoxious"?

You can use alternatives like "completely intolerable", "absolutely dreadful", or "thoroughly offensive" depending on the context.

Is "utterly obnoxious" a formal or informal phrase?

"Utterly obnoxious" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more appropriate in written or slightly elevated speech due to the intensity of the descriptor. In very informal conversations, consider milder alternatives.

What is the difference between "obnoxious" and "utterly obnoxious"?

While "obnoxious" describes something unpleasant or offensive, "utterly obnoxious" amplifies the degree of unpleasantness, indicating something is extremely and completely offensive.