utterly painful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utterly painful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or experience which is extremely unpleasant, such as a physical pain, strong emotional distress, or an uncomfortable experience. For example, "The cancer treatment was utterly painful for her both physically and emotionally."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"From a human point of view, to enter into the aggression of the music would have been utterly painful," chorus director John Oliver said.

The Guardian - Books

All that on-the-fly editing ought to be fantastic, and in fact the results are really not bad, but in reality it's utterly painful to do as the menus aren't intuitive and you'll find yourself stabbing away at the touchscreen and wondering how to get back to where you were.

The Guardian - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I can't think of anyone else who had such utterly dark, painful experiences and yet was able to present them in a funny way that never detracted from the seriousness behind them.

The Guardian

Utterly awful.

The Guardian - Sport

Utterly terrible.

Vice

The protagonist's narrow vision and flat language a consequence of his lack of opportunity and grim surroundings were described as "painful" and "utterly believable" but left one reviewer "gasping for air".

Encyclopedia Britannica

It can be emotionally painful and utterly frightening.

Huffington Post

His first book, it is fused with painful memories and utterly compelling.

The New York Times - Books

Another theme, one that emerges through scenes that are especially painful for being utterly matter of fact, is the pervasiveness of violence, sexual and otherwise, against girls.

The New York Times

I do love the original, but in this setting, in Vernon's hands, the song becomes something else, something painful and wonderful and utterly mesmerising.

The Guardian - Music

The membrane would split, the veins tear free, the heart itself explode into bits of flesh, and then my desire would contain hers it was all so painful and yet so utterly beautiful to imagine.   .

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing experiences, use "utterly painful" to convey not just pain, but a sense of complete and overwhelming suffering. This adds depth and emotional resonance to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "utterly painful" for minor inconveniences or slight discomforts. The phrase is most effective when describing genuinely intense or severe experiences, or else it can sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly painful" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun to describe the intensity and completeness of the pain experienced. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in contexts describing emotional and physical suffering.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "utterly painful" is a grammatically sound adjectival phrase used to express a high degree of physical or emotional suffering. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples primarily from news and encyclopedic sources. While not exceedingly common, its appropriate use adds emotional depth to descriptions of intense experiences. When using this phrase, it's crucial to consider the context, avoiding overuse in trivial situations to maintain its impact. While there are several related alternative phrases ( completely agonizing, absolutely excruciating, and intensely distressing ), they may shift focus slightly, from physical to emotional aspects of pain.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely agonizing

Replaces "painful" with "agonizing" to heighten the sense of suffering, and "utterly" with "completely" to emphasize the totality.

absolutely excruciating

Substitutes both words to convey extreme physical or emotional pain with stronger terms.

intensely distressing

Shifts the focus to emotional pain and uses "intensely" instead of "utterly" to describe the degree of distress.

wholly distressing

Synonymous replacement of "utterly" with "wholly" and "painful" with "distressing".

deeply traumatic

Emphasizes the potential for long-lasting psychological harm; changes the descriptor to "traumatic".

extremely unbearable

Highlights the inability to withstand the situation, making it more about endurance.

terribly upsetting

Focuses on the emotional impact, lessening the intensity of the pain implied in the original phrase.

thoroughly unpleasant

Less intense, focusing on general disagreeableness rather than severe pain. Replaces "utterly painful" with "thoroughly unpleasant".

radically discomforting

Shifts the emphasis towards a lack of comfort, suggesting a sense of unease rather than outright pain.

exceptionally difficult

Broadens the context to indicate a challenging or trying experience, without necessarily involving physical or emotional pain.

FAQs

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

Use "utterly painful" to describe something that causes intense suffering, either physical or emotional. For example: "The memory was "hauntingly painful"" or "The treatment proved "excruciatingly painful"".

What are some alternatives to "utterly painful"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "completely agonizing", "absolutely excruciating", or "intensely distressing" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "utterly painful" an appropriate phrase to use in formal writing?

Yes, "utterly painful" is appropriate for formal writing when describing situations involving significant suffering or distress. However, consider your audience and the overall tone to ensure it fits the context.

What makes "utterly painful" different from "very painful"?

"Utterly painful" implies a greater degree of intensity and completeness than "very painful". "Utterly" suggests that the pain is all-encompassing and leaves no room for relief or comfort, whereas "very" simply indicates a high level of pain.