adjective

utter

UH-ter/ˈʌtər/

Complete or absolute.

The tiny fragments show the vase's utter destruction.

A vase lies completely shattered into tiny pieces with no intact part remaining, showing total and absolute breakage.
Etymology

The ancestor meant “outer.” Through the sense “outermost” or “extreme,” utter came to mean complete and absolute—the idea of going all the way to the limit.

In context

Adam Grant2:43
I've never seen people so excited to talk about their utter lack of excitement.
Adam Grant: How to stop languishing and start finding flow | TED
Gorick Ng1:03
Let's say it's your first day, and it's utter chaos.
How to Succeed in Your New Job | The Way We Work, a TED series

More examples

  • His answer was utter nonsense.
  • They watched in utter disbelief.
  • The plan ended in utter failure.

Forms

utter

utterly adverb — completely

Similar words

complete
The neutral equivalent.
absolute
Without limit or qualification.