utterly rare

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utterly rare" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extreme scarcity or uniqueness of something. Example: "The discovery of the ancient artifact was utterly rare, making it a significant find for historians."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Greengrass intimately involves us in these real-life disasters in a way that is utterly rare.

Independent

Incidents of pilots trying to crash the plane are "utterly rare" happening every five to 10 years.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

His backing band is utterly unobtrusive; his rare between-song comments are largely inaudible asides.

The Guardian - Music

My mother cooked every meal we ate in our house, save the rare, utterly luxurious take-out pizza.

The New Yorker

For Iraqis, the soccer team's presence at the Games is a rare and utterly surprising bit of good news.

The New Yorker

There was authentic Elgar in the programme too: the overture Froissart, an early work but already utterly distinctive – and some rare Vaughan Williams – the Concerto Accademico, the 1920s violin concerto that seems to, at least, flirt with neoclassicism.

The Guardian - Music

A novel of rare intelligence and utterly compelling to read, it takes complete possession of the reader".

The Guardian - Books

The one I popped in first — dear readers, you can guess — is the one devoted to Busby Berkeley, whose distinctive artistry (one of the few in the movies to be both instantly recognizable and utterly inimitable) is among the rarest and most exotic treasures of the movies, all the more so for the surprising contrast of its giddily superficial delights and its philosophical depths.

The New Yorker

The most personal and inspired art they created were catalogs — brilliant, fascinating, scholarly, witty, inspiring, utterly original catalogs of old and rare books.

The New York Times - Magazine

"[Fashion] is what is rare, correctly proportioned, and though utterly discrete, libidinous".

The Economist

It is a rare human act that is utterly reprehensible.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utterly rare" when you want to strongly emphasize the exceptional scarcity or uniqueness of something. It adds a layer of intensity that "rare" alone might not convey.

Common error

While "utterly rare" can be effective, avoid overusing intensifiers like "utterly" in your writing. Too many intensifiers can weaken your overall message and make your writing sound hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly rare" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It serves to describe something as being exceptionally uncommon. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "utterly rare" is a grammatically correct and usable adjective phrase employed to strongly emphasize the scarcity or uniqueness of something. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. While alternatives like ""exceptionally scarce"" or ""singularly unusual"" exist, "utterly rare" provides a distinct level of intensity. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, its neutral register makes it suitable for varied forms of communication. Remember to use it judiciously to avoid weakening the impact of your writing through overuse of intensifiers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exceedingly uncommon

Replaces "utterly" with "exceedingly" and "rare" with "uncommon", both intensifying the rarity.

remarkably infrequent

Substitutes "utterly" with "remarkably" and "rare" with "infrequent", focusing on the lack of frequency.

exceptionally scarce

Uses "exceptionally" instead of "utterly" and "scarce" instead of "rare", highlighting the limited availability.

uncommonly unique

Emphasizes the uniqueness alongside the uncommon nature, changing the focus slightly.

singularly unusual

Highlights the unusual nature to an extreme degree, altering the tone.

distinctively infrequent

Focuses on the distinctive and infrequent nature of something, adding a layer of uniqueness.

absolutely exceptional

Shifts focus to the exceptional quality, implying rarity as a consequence.

extraordinarily uncommon

Highlights the uncommon nature in an extraordinary way, intensifying the description.

uniquely infrequent

Emphasizes the unique and infrequent nature of something, combining both aspects.

decidedly rare

Uses "decidedly" to emphasize the rareness, adding a sense of certainty.

FAQs

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

You can use "utterly rare" to describe something that is exceptionally uncommon or unique. For example, "The discovery of this manuscript is an "utterly rare" event in archaeological history."

What are some synonyms for "utterly rare"?

Alternatives to "utterly rare" include "exceedingly uncommon", "exceptionally scarce", or "singularly unusual" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "utterly rare" formal or informal?

"Utterly rare" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts when you wish to emphasize the infrequency or uniqueness of something.

What's the difference between "rare" and "utterly rare"?

While "rare" indicates something is uncommon, "utterly rare" intensifies this meaning, emphasizing that something is exceptionally uncommon or virtually unique. The word "utterly" serves as an intensifier.