Utter
This verb should be distinguished from express or say. Utter carries with it the idea of articulate expression, except in the sense of uttering false coins or forged notes.
As an adjective it is defined by complete, perfect, absolute, etc., but it can be applied only to what is unpleasant or unfavorable. “I enjoyed utter happiness” would be an absurd expression, but “I was doomed to utter misery” illustrates a proper use of the word.
These words are not synonymous; valuable means precious, costly, having value; valued refers to our estimation of the worth. “He is one of our most valued contributors,” not valuable, unless you are thinking of the value of his contributions and the smallness of the compensation.
Very pleased
A few participles used as adjectives may be directly modified by too or very; as, “I was very tired,” “He was too fatigued to go farther.”
We sometimes hear the expression, “I was very pleased,” but the critics insist upon “I was very much pleased,” or “greatly pleased,” or “very greatly pleased.”
Vicinity
Often too high-sounding a word for the thought; neighborhood is less pretentious.