utterly

adverb

ut·​ter·​ly ˈə-tər-lē 

: to an absolute or extreme degree : to the full extent : in an utter manner : absolutely, entirely, totally

Just when you're expecting to hear something trite or ordinary, Rich invents a tasty, utterly charming piece of ear candy.

—Carol Cooper

Whatever this stuff is, it comprises as much as 90% of the mass of the universe. It is also utterly invisible.

—M. Mitchell Waldrop

… a fascinating read, despite the fact that its unique tone is utterly lost in translation.

—Ian Buruma

Cut off utterly from her past, but socially unacceptable in this new world, Irene chooses the same refuge that's worked for her as a child: poetry.

—Sue Miller

Synonyms of utterly

• completely
• totally
• quite
• fully
• wholly
• perfectly
• all
• thoroughly
• entirely
• absolutely
• fast
• even

Examples of utterly in a Sentence

we are in fact utterly out of ideas

was utterly overwhelmed by the demands on her time

Recent Examples on the Web

What starts as democratic, orderly, cooperative and hopeful quickly devolves into something violent, tribal, primitive and utterly wild. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 May 2026

These are utterly transient people, with no loyalty to the neighborhood. —Niki Donohue, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026

The citrus filling in this luscious layered dessert is utterly delightful, especially paired with the tartness of the cranberry jelly layer. —Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 1 May 2026

The scene that brings Mathias and Claude together again is built from a devastatingly clever series of utterly unconnected circumstances—none sufficient, all necessary, and timed with the mechanical precision of screwball comedy. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above