utter

adjective

ut·ter | \ˈə-tər

Definition of utter

(Entry 1 of 2)

: carried to the utmost point or highest degree : absolute, total utter darkness utter strangers

utter

verb

uttered; uttering; utters

Definition of utter (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 obsolete : to offer for sale

2a : to send forth as a sound utter a sigh

b : to give utterance to : pronounce, speak refused to utter his name

c : to give public expression to : express in words utter an opinion

3 : to put (notes, currency, etc.) into circulation specifically : to circulate (something, such as a forged or counterfeit note) as if legal or genuine utter false tokens

4 : to put forth or out : discharge

intransitive verb

: to make a statement or sound

Other Words from utter Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about utter

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Other Words from utter

Adjective

utterly adverb

Verb

utterable \ˈə-tə-rə-bəl

\ adjective

utterer \ˈə-tər-ər

\ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for utter

Verb

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels. express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces. expressed her feelings in music vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words. a tirade venting his frustration utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech. utter a groan voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words. an editorial voicing their concerns broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion. broached the subject of a divorce air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention. publicly airing their differences

Examples of utter in a Sentence

Adjective

It's hard to believe that we were utter strangers just a few days ago. The situation descended into utter chaos. The children displayed an utter lack of interest in the performance. The movie was utter garbage. That argument is utter nonsense.

Verb

She uttered a cry of pleasure. He can hardly utter a sentence without swearing.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

But City Hall has shown it can't be trusted with all the petty political fights and utter failure to fix the 911 system years ago. — Jason Williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX column: Why Ron Plush is keeping the pressure on Cincinnati City Hall," 14 June 2018 Or leave just for her utter failure to see the irony in her rage or to admit her own faults. — Carolyn Hax, Detroit Free Press, "Girlfriend harbors intense hatred of all men," 30 Mar. 2018 Its mission is to tackle obstacles to community progress, and a big topic has been what its leaders say is the utter failure of JCPS to reverse low achievement of its graduates. — Grace Schneider, The Courier-Journal, "JCPS superintendent to SCALA: As long as you want a state takeover, I won't join you," 19 Mar. 2018 The utter failure of one of the most complex and expensive walking robots in history must have been a red flag for Google/Alphabet. — Erik Sofge, Popular Mechanics, "The Golden Age of Walking Bots That Never Arrived," 25 Mar. 2016 Leonard breaks the news to Sheldon and Amy, who are in complete and utter disbelief. — Jessica Radloff, Glamour, "The Big Bang Theory Season 12, Episode 9 Recap: Amy and Sheldon's Project Falls Apart," 15 Nov. 2018 Find your perfect pair here, then bask in the complete and utter lack of buyer’s remorse. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "Made for Walking: Shop Fall’s Best (Affordable!) Boots for Under $200," 30 Oct. 2018 One of the most important science experiments of all time was a complete and utter failure. — Meg Neal, Popular Mechanics, "The Eternal Quest for Aether, the Cosmic Stuff That Never Was," 19 Oct. 2018 While Cleveland’s locker room was in utter chaos for much of the season, there weren’t dry spells or dramas to dissect in Houston. — Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, "NBA MVP: Does James Harden or LeBron James have the better case?," 10 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

On July 11, Forbes reported that Papa John’s founder, chairman and public face John Schnatter, uttered the N-word on a call with company executives and a marketing firm known as Laundry Service. — Fox News, "Papa John's ex-CEO apologizes for using racial slur in May conference call," 2 Oct. 2018 Yes’ was uttered before the ring was revealed — which got a lackluster reaction from Ms. Clark. — Alix Strauss, New York Times, "Worthy of a Romance Novel, With a Touch of Mystery," 29 June 2018 As soon as Comey reported having been asked for loyalty in 2017, the White House insisted no such words were ever uttered. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Republicans Now Believe James Comey Used the Pee Tape to Set a Trap for Trump," 20 Apr. 2018 No word of the settlement was uttered in court Friday. — Paige Fry, chicagotribune.com, "City tentatively settles lawsuit over police shooting of bystander killed when cop fired at bat-wielding teen," 8 June 2018 These words and others, including a threat to use a gun and many expletives, were allegedly uttered by Steven Neuenfeldt, 35, of Cudahy in a video recorded by his girlfriend May 25, according to police. — Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Cudahy man threatened to kill live-in girlfriend with a gun, police say," 31 May 2018 Still, the casualness with which the line was uttered and received does indicate something important about the way Republican thinking about law enforcement has evolved. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Giuliani’s FBI ‘Stormtroopers’ Smear Is the Key to Trump’s Authoritarian Mind-set," 3 May 2018 Meyer would look up pugnaciously, as Bruce would do to his former aide, and, shaking his fist under an imaginary nose, Meyer-as-Bruce would detail in no uncertain terms the task against the school whose name shall not be uttered. — Bill Livingston, cleveland.com, "Remembering combative, sentimental Ohio State coach Earle Bruce: Bill Livingston (photos)," 20 Apr. 2018 Yet having been unforgettably uttered by the man who would be president, the word was being cheekily co-opted by women planning a post-inaugural march to rebuke him. — Stephanie Ebbert, BostonGlobe.com, "Words you couldn’t say in The Boston Globe — until now," 17 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'utter.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.