utterly reckless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "utterly reckless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions or behaviors that are extremely careless or irresponsible. Example: "His decision to drive without a seatbelt was utterly reckless and could have resulted in a serious accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

But to allege fraud in this regard is utterly reckless.

The New York Times

And now comes an utterly reckless piece of legislation that would destroy these gains.

The New Yorker

"As more patients require complex care from specialist nurses, letting so many years of skills and experience vanish from the NHS is an utterly reckless policy," he said.

Independent

Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN said: "As more patients require complex care from specialist nurses, letting so many years of skills and experience vanish from the NHS is an utterly reckless policy.

BBC

Netanyahu is utterly reckless.

Huffington Post

For Daus to issue a press release accusing two-thirds of the city's taxi force of committing a crime is inflammatory, antagonistic, and utterly reckless.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"I'm not a psychologist, but this is just utterly, completely reckless".

The New York Times

Katie Hall, chair of the LGA's community wellbeing board, said: "This is an utterly reckless and totally irresponsible craze which has tragically claimed lives.

The Guardian

This is a raw, reckless, utterly lovable show, made with generous dollops of trust and love.

The Guardian

Armed with just these two numbers, spending scarce resources on smashing up the beautiful English countryside to extract more of the stuff seems not only reckless but utterly perverse.

The Guardian - Opinion

So, it's somewhat surprising, even to me, that I find myself here -- saying that Sarah Palin's actions have been so utterly self-involved and reckless that they should forever disqualify her from occupying a position of political leadership in this country again.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "utterly reckless", ensure that the context clearly demonstrates the high degree of irresponsibility or lack of care involved in the action being described. For example, "Driving at twice the speed limit in a residential area is an "utterly reckless" act that endangers lives".

Common error

Avoid using "utterly reckless" to describe situations that are only slightly careless or irresponsible. The phrase carries a strong connotation of extreme negligence, and its use in mild situations can sound hyperbolic. Instead, consider using terms like "careless" or "inconsiderate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly reckless" functions as an adverb-adjective combination that modifies a noun or pronoun by attributing to it a characteristic of extreme carelessness or irresponsibility. According to Ludwig AI, it is a valid and usable expression in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "utterly reckless" is a grammatically correct and semantically intense expression used to describe actions exhibiting extreme carelessness and disregard for potential consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in English writing. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to strongly condemn or disapprove of behaviors carrying a high risk of negative outcomes. While other similar phrases such as "completely reckless" or "entirely reckless" exist, "utterly reckless" maintains a distinct emphasis on the profound lack of caution involved. When using the phrase, writers should ensure that it aligns with the severity of the situation being described to avoid hyperbole.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely reckless

Replaces "utterly" with "entirely", maintaining a very close degree of intensity and meaning.

totally reckless

Substitutes "utterly" with "totally", offering virtually identical emphasis.

completely reckless

Replaces "utterly" with "completely", resulting in a synonymous expression.

downright reckless

Uses "downright" to emphasize the degree of recklessness, intensifying the negative connotation.

extremely reckless

Uses "extremely" instead of "utterly" to denote a very high level of recklessness.

profoundly reckless

Emphasizes the depth and significance of the recklessness.

truly reckless

Replaces "utterly" with "truly", emphasizing the genuineness of the recklessness.

quite reckless

Substitutes "utterly" with "quite", resulting in a slightly reduced but still significant degree of recklessness.

patently irresponsible

Shifts the focus to the irresponsibility aspect of the action, while retaining the clear and obvious nature of the behavior.

blatantly irresponsible

Similar to "patently irresponsible", but emphasizes the flagrant and obvious nature of the irresponsibility.

FAQs

What does "utterly reckless" mean?

The phrase "utterly reckless" means extremely careless or irresponsible. It describes actions or behaviors that show a complete disregard for potential danger or consequences.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "utterly reckless"?

It is appropriate to use "utterly reckless" when describing actions that are not only careless but also demonstrate a high degree of disregard for safety and potential harm. For example, actions that could lead to serious injury or significant damage.

What are some alternatives to saying "utterly reckless"?

You can use alternatives like "entirely reckless", "completely reckless", or "downright reckless", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "utterly reckless" a formal or informal expression?

"Utterly reckless" is a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it is often found in news and media reporting on serious incidents. However, ensure that your tone fits with the situation being described.