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

• 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

Defense steps up The Valkyries came into Saturday’s game with the sixth-best defense in the league, but Golden State was utterly dominant in stopping Washington’s inside-out attack. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025

The director’s frequent collaborators Kass and Mikkelsen have spent enough time onscreen together to be utterly believable in a sibling relationship that’s shaped by 30 years of bad vibes. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 30 Aug. 2025

About her crimes, Maxwell remained utterly lacking in remorse. —Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2025

Meanwhile, his defense has gone from a Gold Glove-winning asset to an utterly baffling liability. —Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above