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 & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about utter

Keep scrolling for more

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

Two factors have been consistent in those efforts: Their utter failures and, more recently, the powerful presence of ex-KGB officer Vladimir V. Putin, now Russian president again. — Andrew Malcolm, SFChronicle.com, "Will Trump stand up to Putin or fall for him?," 12 July 2018 His sudden passing comes as an utter shock to his friends and family, who celebrated his wedding less than a year ago, and the birth of his daughter Molly on Friday April 13th. — courant.com, "Elias Max Friedman," 26 Apr. 2018 Donald Trump, to the utter shock and horror of the coastal establishment, was winning. — James Hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Mueller may release multiple reports on Trump, obstruction and Russian interference," 4 Apr. 2018 This little boy cannot contain his utter shock when the doors in front of him automatically slide open. — Alexis Hobbs, Woman's Day, "This Little Boy is Completely in Awe of Automatic Sliding Doors," 30 Nov. 2015 What Mueller is doing is nonsense, utter legal nonsense. — Fox News, "Joe diGenova: The Mueller investigation is illegitimate," 8 May 2018 Its utter darkness is hard to shake when the credits roll. — Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, "The 10 best movies of 2018 (so far), ranked," 21 June 2018 Clad in a powder-blue cardigan, a tweed skirt, sometimes a vest, and literal rose-colored glasses, the 92-year-old monarch took in the horse show with what can only be described as a mixture of intense focus, utter jubilation, and sheer annoyance. — Lisa Ryan, The Cut, "The Emotional Journey of Queen Elizabeth at a Horse Show," 9 May 2018 Whether or not the decisions were correct has left the football world scratching their heads, but one thing everyone can agree on is that VAR caused utter carnage during the match. — SI.com, "Alan Shearer Left Seething With VAR After Controversy Reigns During Iran vs Portugal Clash," 26 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Somewhere along the line, my sweet and caring mother who has never harmed anyone, or uttered a hateful thought, had been sucked into the vortex of Fox News. — Luke O'neil, Esquire, "I Followed Bill O'Reilly's Tips of the Day to Fix My Life," 5 Jan. 2018 But to use the N-word to explain that Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, often uttered the racist smear? — Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal, "Dear John: This breakup isn't about us, it's about you and the N-word," 12 July 2018 The event included a pride seder haggadah modeled after a Passover one, candles lit to represent the colors of the rainbow and a chuppah in which attendees stood under while healing prayers were uttered. — Sergio Carmona, Jewish Journal, "Synagogues celebrate LGBTQ community during Pride Month," 15 June 2018 Every word uttered by a world leader had to be interpreted and relayed to the other with exacting context and nuance. — Doug Criss, CNN, "The two really important people at the summit (beside Trump and Kim)," 12 June 2018 These were cruel things to say, often uttered in the heat of her angry outbursts, of which there were many. — Anastasia Selby, Allure, "How My Mother’s Death Set Me on the Path to Eating Disorder Recovery," 16 May 2018 But through all the quips and catchy phrases uttered over the years, there's one that always sticks out in my mind above all else. — Nick Baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football's offense is still Jim Harbaugh's, which is best scenario," 24 Apr. 2018 But during the most turbulent years of the civil rights movement, Dr. King never publicly uttered the poet’s name. — Jason Miller, Smithsonian, "In His Speeches, MLK Carefully Evoked the Poetry of Langston Hughes," 3 Apr. 2018 But like the Star Wars line, Field never actually uttered those words at the Oscars. — Addie Morfoot, Harper's BAZAAR, "The 22 Moments That Defined the Oscars," 2 Mar. 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.