utterly

adverb

ut·​ter·​ly ˈə-tər-lē How to pronounce utterly (audio)
Synonyms of utterlynext
: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Her early death, after an illness that the father initially contrives to ignore then notices just in time to capture her desperation in a fine sketch, leaves Mimí utterly disoriented, yearning only to achieve a level of self-control and detachment that will spare him their tumultuous struggle. Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 These two accent marks—a quarter and an eighth of an ounce, respectively—utterly change the character of the drink. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026 That’s where this utterly gorgeous face-framing look comes in. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2026 Balle is so unbelievably good at rooting her narrator down into exorbitant details in the midst of an utterly ungrounded premise (being stuck in November 18th). Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for utterly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of utterly was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Utterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/utterly. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

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