So great was his emotion that he could not utter a word.
Source: tatoeba (21037)
Utter
/ˈʌtə/
Synonyms for "utter" (353 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (71)
Adjective(10 words)
abjectabsolute certaintyabsolute displacement magnitudeabsolute improvementabsolutestarrantblankcompletecomplete structureconsummate
absoluteadmitting no exceptionairall embracingall outall pervadingall-embracingall-encompassingall-outall-pervadingarrantarticulatebestrewblurtbornbranch outbreak it tobreak the newsbreathebring out
Noun(7 words)
absolute silenceabsolute termabsolute valuescomplete answercomplete controlcomplete mandatory assignmentcrying
Strong matches (106)
Adjective(7 words)
deaddeal outdecideddecisivedeep dyeddeep-dyeddefenddefinitedefinitivedeliverdemonetizedeterminatedevaluatedevaluedictatediffractdiffusedisclosedispensedisperse
Show 63 more words
dispreaddisseminatedistributedivergedivulgatedivulgedownrightdyed-in-the-woolegregiousemitentireenunciateevulgateexclaimexhaustiveexplicitexpressfan outfinalfixedflagrantflatflat outflat-outfling offforgeformulatefullgivegive expressiongive outgive out withgive tonguegive utterancegive vent togive voiceglaringglobalgogrossheaveimpartimplicitinappealableindisputableintactintegralintensiveintolerableissuelet get aroundlet in onlet outlipmainmake knownmanifestmintmumbleomnibusomnipresentout without-and-out
Verb(10 words)
Related words (176)
outrightoverscatteroversowoverspreadpassperemptoryperfectpervasivephonatephraseplainplumbpositivepour forthpreciouspresentprofessprofoundpronouncepronounced
Show 86 more words
propagateproperpublishpureput forthput in wordsradiateradicalraiserankrattleregularreissueremonetizeretailrevaluerevealrightroundsayscatterset forthshatteringsheershockingshove the queersoundsowsow broadcastsplayspreadspread outstarkstark-staringstraightstraight outstraight-outstrewsuperlativesurpassingsweepingtellthe veriestthoroughthoroughgoingthrough and throughthrough-and-throughthrow offthrow outthumpingtotalubiquitousunbearableuncircumscribedunconditionalunconditionedunconscionableundeniableundoubtingunequivocalunhamperedunhesitatinguniversalunlimitedunmistakableunmitigatedunqualifiedunquestioningunrelievedunreservedunrestrictedunspoiledunwaivableventventilateverbalizeveritableveryvocalizevoicewhisperwholewholesalewithout exceptionwithout reserveword
Adjective(21 words)
perfectprofound silencepurerankestsheer amountsheerersheerestsoddingspoken activityspoken wordsstaringstarkstarkestswedish absolutthoroughthoroughgoingtotal energy consumption figureunadulteratedverbal messageswackest
Show 1 more word
Noun(27 words)
perishingpoohportuguese totalpronounced differencepronouncingquacksrank conceptrank membersrank studentssay the wordsayingscratchily voiced narrationsoundsspanish proferirspeaking activitiesspeaking skillsspekespokestate government agenciesstate guidelines
Show 7 more words
Verb(21 words)
proclaimpronouncesquothreciterecitedsaidsaithsaysspakespeaksspokenstatestating the problemtalktotalverbaliseverbalisedverbalizing aloudvocaliservocalized
Show 1 more word
Determiner(1 words)
the total
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: emit, say, speak, verbalize, vocalize.
- Sentence evidence is available for utter, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, wiktionary, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "utter".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "utter"
Keep "utter" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "utter" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "utter", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "utter" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
12 entriesMore specific
10 entriesCollocations
11 entriesutter a questionutter a remarkutter a sentenceutter a sighutter a wordutter aloudutter chaosutter disasterutter frustrationutter nonsenseutter silence
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
8 entriessimilar
4 entriesTranslations
110 translations across 32 languages.
Ancient Greek
1 entries- φθέγγομαι verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Arabic
1 entries- نَطَقَ بِ verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Bulgarian
1 entries- пускам в обращение verb ((transitive) to pass off (counterfeit currency, etc.) as legal tender; to use (a forged cheque) as if genuine)
Burmese
1 entries- မြွက် verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Catalan
4 entries- balbotejar verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- balbucejar verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- dir verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- emetre verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Chinese Mandarin
2 entries- 發出 /发出 verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- 說出 /说出 verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Czech
4 entries- blekotat verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- dát do oběhu peníze verb ((transitive) to pass off (counterfeit currency, etc.) as legal tender; to use (a forged cheque) as if genuine)
- pronést verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- vydat (zvuk) verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Danish
3 entries- udstøde verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- udtrykke verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- ytre verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Dutch
4 entries- produceren verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- uitbrengen verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- uiten verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- voortbrengen verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Esperanto
1 entries- eldiri verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Finnish
4 entries- houria verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- inahtaa verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- laskea liikkeeseen verb ((transitive) to put (currency or other valuable items) into circulation)
- päästää verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
French
3 entries- proférer verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- prononcer verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- émettre verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Galician
1 entries- dicir verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
German
3 entries- ausstoßen verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- äußern verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- äußern verb ((transitive) to pass off (counterfeit currency, etc.) as legal tender; to use (a forged cheque) as if genuine)
Greek
4 entries- αρθρώνω verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- βγάζω verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- εκφέρω verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- λέω verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Hungarian
4 entries- kiad verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- kiejt verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- kimond verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- megszólal verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Italian
4 entries- articolare verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- biascicare verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- borbottare verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- dire verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Japanese
2 entries- 発する verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- 述べる verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Latin
4 entries- effor verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- loquor verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- memoro verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- proloquor verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Māori
2 entries- hamumu verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- tātaku verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Norwegian Bokmål
3 entries- utstøte verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- utstøyte verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- ytre verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Norwegian Nynorsk
1 entries- ytre verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Old English
1 entries- āseċġan verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Persian
1 entries- گفتن verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Polish
1 entries- mamrotać verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Portuguese
4 entries- articular verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- balbuciar verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- dizer verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- emitir verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Russian
4 entries- вы́говорить verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- выгова́ривать verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- говори́ть verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- изда́ть verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Slovak
4 entries- brbľať verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- bľabotať verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- povedať verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- vydávať (zvuk) verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Slovene
3 entries- izgovoriti verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- oglasiti se verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- reči verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Spanish
3 entries- perorar verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- resolgar verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- resollar verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Swedish
3 entries- ge till verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- utstöta verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
- yttra verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Zulu
1 entries- -phimisa verb ((''transitive'') to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice)
Sample sentences
130 total sentences available.
His utter failure at the last peace conference has taught him to arm himself to the teeth with new tricks and tactics.
Source: tatoeba (60469)
One morning at breakfast we children were informed to our utter dismay that we could no longer be permitted to run absolutely wild.
Source: tatoeba (67198)
Because of the street fighting, the city is in utter confusion.
Source: tatoeba (246133)
Showing 4 of 130 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "utter"?
Closest matches include emit, say, speak, verbalize, vocalize.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "utter"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.