#187: Speak with Impact — 52 Collocations with Intensifying Adjectives
In August, I received a question from Serj who said, “I am very curious about little words (adjectives) which are used in collocations for emphasizing emotions and narrative in general. Like sheer guts, utter crap, brand new, blatant stupidness.”
I loved the adjective Serj chose for the question: sheer, utter, blatant.
These words made me think of a similar adjective we use with nouns to form collocations in English: absolute.
Based on Serj’s request, I have multiple lessons planned on this topic to help you advance your English vocabulary and I’m starting here with a focus on using sheer, utter, blatant, and absolute with nouns.
Today we’re all about English collocations that will help you speak with impact.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I LOVE teaching collocations because they’re an absolutely brilliant way to learn vocabulary and sound more natural when you speak.
If you’re not sure what collocations are, here’s a quick recap: they are words that English speakers often use together. The associate or go together like best friends.
If you want to get more, I have several lessons on this topic and I recommend starting with the first lesson on 15 Collocations about What You Think. In this lesson, provide a more detailed background of what collocations are and WHY they’re so important to learn.
And now let’s go ahead and dive in with 52 Collocations to Speak with Impact — Using Intensifying Adjectives.
52 Collocations with Intensifying Adjectives in English — Full List
With the collocations below, I’ve provided some example sentences so you can see how to use them correctly.
I have not provided examples with every collocation because I want you to have the opportunity to apply what you’ve learned and practice.
You can share your examples with me in the comments below.
Intensifying Adjective: Sheer
- Sheer joy/delight/happiness: In this picture, she has a look of sheer joy on her face.
- Sheer determination/persistence: She became the CEO of the company through her sheer determination.
- Sheer genius: That idea is sheer genius!
- Sheer perfection: The dinner my mom made last week was sheer perfection.
- Sheer desperation: She called her neighbor out of sheer desperation at 2:00 AM.
- Sheer enormity: They were overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the problem.
- Sheer panic: I was in a sheer panic after the accident.
- Sheer frustration: He gave up in sheer frustration.
- Sheer number: We were shocked by the sheer number of people who came to the event.
- Sheer stupidity
- Sheer accident
- Sheer beauty
- Sheer boredom
- Sheer greed
Intensifying Adjective: Blatant
- Blatant lie: Her excuse for why she didn’t come to work was a blatant lie.
- Blatant disregard: There’s no excuse for such a blatant disregard for the rules.
- Blatant discrimination: The company was accused of blatant discrimination.
- Blatant disrespect: I’ve never seen such blatant disrespect toward someone else.
- Blatant violation: His behavior was a blatant violation of company policy.
- Blatant racism/sexism
Intensifying Adjective: Utter
- Utter amazement: She started at the sunset in utter amazement.
- Utter stillness: When meditating, I try to sit in utter stillness.
- Utter disappointment: When he lost the job promotion, he felt utter disappointment.
- Utter nonsense: That sounds like utter nonsense!
- Utter waste
- Utter boredom
- Utter chaos/confusion
- Utter perfection
- Utter darkness
- Utter surprise
- Utter embarrassment
- Utter failure
- Utter incompetence
- Utter shock
- Utter silence
Intensifying Adjective: Absolute
- Absolute agreement: We’re in absolute agreement on this issue!
- Absolute beginner: Sometimes I feel like an absolute beginner in my language learning.
- Absolute mastery: My goal is to gain absolute mastery (and confidence) in my language skills.
- Absolute highlight: Watching the sunrise from the mountain top was an absolute highlight from my vacation.
- Absolute solitude: I appreciate opportunities for absolute solitude when I’m on vacation.
- Absolute waste: Watching too much TV is an absolute waste of time.
- Absolute certainty
- Absolute authority
- Absolute devotion
- Absolute faith
- Absolute favorite
- Absolute nonsense
- Absolute disgrace
- Absolute mess
- Absolute idiot
- Absolute tragedy
- Absolute wreck
As I mentioned above, I did not include example sentences for every collocation from today’s Confident English lesson because I want you to apply what you’ve learned and to try sharing your own examples.
In my lesson on how to best learn and remember vocabulary, I recommend that you begin with 2-3 collocations from this list. Select your favorites. Then try using them in your own example sentences.
Share your examples with me in the comments below. And take time to review examples from other students in the Confident English Community. It’s a fantastic way to build on your know-how and advance your skills.
~Annemarie
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Thanks Ann!
Her sheer beauty was an absolute highlight of the party. Everyone was absolutely amazed at her utter looks!
very useful lesson thank you so much!
The floral decoration was an absolute highlight at the event as it drew so many attention
U’re a sheer genius because you actually make difficult thing’s easier for people to understand .
I couldn’t find the right words to used during the meeting which made me utter quite
Hello,
Thanks! Interesting Lesson.
Hi Anne
This lesson is absolutely wonderful thanks for all
Sometimes I feel like an absolute beginner in my English learning, it’s utter embarrassment and sheer desperation but i now it blatant lie to give up i should work hardness and i would have sheer determination
Hello,
Every lesson you give as is totally intersting. Now I have absolute exhaustion due to my hard work but I have the sheer determination to carry on with my improvement in English
Oh, wonderful examples Julia!! Nicely done. I’m happy to know you enjoyed the lesson and found it useful. 😊
Hi Annemarie,
Thanks for a sheer genius lesson.
Most of the collocations are new for me so let’s see which are my favorites.
I heard something on the news so I will say ” He sounds like utter nonsense”
Sheer determination/persistence She lost weight through her sheer determination.
Can you said this ” I am sheer persistence on my goals”
Absolute favorite The blueberries are my absolute favorite fruit in this world.
Thanks again for your support and help.
Take care and have a fantastic day!
Hannan
Hi Annemarie, thank you for your sheer genius lesson! 🙂
I try to use my favorite collocations in this sentences:
When I listen to an English song and understand every word I feel sheer joy!
Sometimes I need to be alone in utter silence.
Walking along the seashore and watching amazing sunset was an absolute highlight from our vacation.
Best, 🙂
Agnieszka
👏👏👏 Perfect examples, Agnieszka! Like you, I definitely need times of utter silence. I’m thrilled you enjoyed this lesson and found some new collocations to use.
It was sheer joy when my former headmaster (my boss) and my former students came to my farewell party.
There’s no excuse for such a blatant disregard for the rules concerning the prevention of the Corona Virus.
Excellent, Marianne! And you’re absolutely right about ignoring the rules when it comes to preventing COVID-19. We’re in absolute agreement on that. 😊
Chats between parents at school are absolute wasting of time Often when you must take important decisions you are in the absolute solitude Sheer perseverance and determination were the secrets of his brilliant career The Nike of Samotracia is sheer beauty and perfection When the police found the kid he was in sheer desperation The Dolomiti mountains are the utter degree of god’s perfection this party was the utter triumph of boredom and stupidity The latest Brexit decisions are the utter failure of politics His behaviour was the blatant disregard of the galateo rules This accident was an absolute tragedy… Read more »
Hi Luisa, thanks so much for sharing your examples!
There are a couple recommendations I’d like to make:
1. Chats between parents at school are absolute wasting of time. –> Please review the original collocation provided in the lesson and the use of the noun ‘waste.’
2. this party was the utter triumph of boredom and stupidity –> A triumph is a significant accomplishment; a moment worthy of celebration. That doesn’t quite match up with the idea of boredom and stupidity. We need to look for a different word here.
Playing video games all times is absolutely wasting time.
We all were in a sheer panic when Corona Virus started in the United states.
I like working in the utter silence environment otherwise I lose my focus easily.
Sometimes I enjoy the absolute solitude time sitting in my backyard and drinking a cup of tea.
This lesson was absolutely amazing! Thank you!
“This lesson is a sheer genius “
👏👏👏 Thanks so much, Dali. I’m glad you think so. And perfect use of ‘sheer genius’ here. 😉
Hi Annemarie, and thanks for this new useful lesson.
I try to use my favourite collocations in some sentences:
-I haven’t been able to meet my daughter for a long time due the pandemic, so, when i will meet her again, it will be sheer joy!
-I listened to a politician talking about the upcoming elections, but what he said sounded like a utter nonsense!
-She has just won a game of chess, even though she is an absolute beginner. Her mind is sheer genius!
Thank you again 😉
Annalisa
Oh, perfect examples Annalisa! And your grammar is right on point in each one. Nicely done! 🙌
Today I will try to use three of these collocations: utter stillness (I love it); blatant disregard (when my neighbour is parking on the grass;) and absolute nonsense. Thank you for the lesson!
Oh, I’m thrilled that you’ve got some new collocations, Dominika! I love utter stillness too. And yes! Parking in the grass is certainly a clear example of blatant disregard.