Definition of UTTER

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 The scene infuriated Iranians on social media for its stark contrast of utter poverty, explicitly juxtaposed against Iran’s immense oil wealth. — Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, "Why Iranians, rattled by suicides, point a finger at leaders," 8 July 2020 Their bad behavior would be a mere sideshow to the utter lack of leadership from the Trump administration and from governors, like Florida’s Ron DeSantis, who refuse to reverse course on disastrous reopening plans even as hospitals fill up. — Gilad Edelman, Wired, "“Covid Parties” Are Not a Thing," 2 July 2020 The centerpiece of Calvin’s theology—the absolute, opaque sovereignty of God and our utter non-control over our own salvation—was, in Weber’s account, impossibly severe, unsustainable for the average person. — George Blaustein, The New Republic, "Searching for Consolation in Max Weber’s Work Ethic," 2 July 2020 Morgan Toles, an assistant women’s basketball coach at Kent State, paused, her voice cracking, trying to gather her thoughts on describing the utter helpless feeling her entire family has been enduring the past 1 ½ years. — Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, "'He really needs help': Family seeks help for Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles, who is homeless and hospitalized," 30 June 2020 This is utter nonsense, according to The Chronicle’s editorial board. — Chronicle Staff, SFChronicle.com, "Coronavirus news from the Bay Area: June 14-15," 16 June 2020 For baseball and soccer players competing in Asia and Europe, the in-game experience reflects the utter desolation of an outdoor stadium without fans. — Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, "Fake crowd noise and imagery amplify sports’ desperation during coronavirus," 19 June 2020 The video captured by that crew is stunning for the utter lack of grounds for the arrest. — Jack Greiner, Cincinnati.com, "Strictly Legal: Minnesota class action seeks to protect journalists," 10 June 2020 Here’s somebody that’s utter and complete innocence — tortured to death. — Emma Colton, Washington Examiner, "Shelby Steele: George Floyd protests are about 'power' and victimhood," 8 June 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Those are words that, to many, should have been easy ones for the president to utter long ago. — Nancy Benac, BostonGlobe.com, "Analysis: What Trump leaves unspoken carries consequences," 1 July 2020 And each time, the new straggler walked up and fearfully uttered that person's name. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "The Last of Us Pt. 2 hands-on: You can’t pet the dog—but you can expect terror," 2 June 2020 Even before anyone had uttered the name COVID-19, Indiana's nursing homes already were considered by some to be among the worst in the nation, in great part because of low staffing. — Kaitlin Lange, Indianapolis Star, "By the time Indiana nursing homes had to report coronavirus deaths, 31 people were dead," 15 Apr. 2020 When Seldom Seen speaks, Belafonte utters some of the most scathing observations ever heard in an American film. — Armond White, National Review, "Kansas City: Belafonte’s Greatest Political Lecture on Film," 11 Mar. 2020 If someone slips up and utters it, they are required to grab a makeshift pair of bicycle handlebars, head to the outfield wall and jog from pole-to-pole along the warning track. — oregonlive, "‘We can’: How Mitch Canham has quickly brought Oregon State baseball ‘family’ closer together," 6 Mar. 2020 His voice, soft as denim but husky with a cold, uttered her name once, then again, the way one does when a newish relationship (10 months) is cementing into something real, something a person would be remiss to leave out. — Thomas Whiteside, Harper's BAZAAR, "Noah Centineo Is More Than the Internet’s Boyfriend," 11 Feb. 2020 Through an ongoing investigation, watching video and with the help of school resource officers, police determined there were no racial slurs uttered before the fight by the 17-year-olds, according to the release. — Bob Dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A Waukesha student involved in a parking lot brawl says it was racially motivated. Police say that's not true.," 6 Feb. 2020 Swirling a small pour of his family’s namesake Brunello di Montalcino Riserva in a glass before him, Tancredi Biondi-Santi utters what may sound like sacrilege to lovers of long-aging Tuscan reds like this one. — Fortune, "Legendary winemaker Brunello di Montalcino releases a vintage marking the end of an era," 24 Jan. 2020

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.