I felt entitled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I felt entitled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a personal belief or feeling of deserving something, often in relation to a situation or outcome. Example: "After years of hard work, I felt entitled to a promotion and a raise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

I felt entitled.

The New York Times - Magazine

I felt entitled to her success, yet frightened by it.

The Guardian

So I felt entitled to the support I was receiving, as I had been a valuable member of society who had contributed and would do so again in the future.

The Guardian - Money

Since teatime was off the meter, I felt entitled to wrap up whatever solid refreshments we hadn't consumed to take home, and I confess that, in addition to scones and sandwiches, I sometimes also pocketed a handful of raw brown sugar lumps, and on the way to the tube station, which, like Rive Gauche, was on Bond Street, I would eat them furtively, like stolen candy.

The New Yorker

In sum, I spent my teen years floating in a space of vapid hypocrisy, where I felt entitled to denigrate aid work in which I had never participated.

Huffington Post

I was so relieved to be out from under my parents' uber-thrifty "you-don't-need-that" thumb that I felt entitled to buy everything I wanted.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"After completing a demanding degree I feel entitled to learn more about a subject that I'm passionate about".

The Guardian

JUDGE JOHN HODGMAN RULES By John Hodgman SHANNON WRITES: My husband and I feel entitled to unrestricted access to our children's leftover Halloween candy.

The New York Times - Magazine

"[Not defining] is something I feel entitled to as a person who lives in London, but I didn't feel entitled to it in a small town in the home counties.

The Guardian

"I pay taxes, and I am paying for my son's education, so I feel entitled that Bedford pays for his transportation," she said.

The New York Times

"Whatever it takes to express my particular pique at the moment, I feel entitled to use it," is how she described the ethos.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I felt entitled" when you want to express a past feeling of deserving something, even if that feeling was later reconsidered or proven incorrect. It acknowledges a subjective viewpoint.

Common error

Be careful not to use "I felt entitled" as a blanket excuse for actions that might be considered selfish or unfair. Acknowledge the feeling, but also consider the impact of acting on it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I felt entitled" functions as a statement of personal feeling or belief. It indicates a past subjective experience of deserving something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and can be used to express a personal sense of deserving something.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I felt entitled" is a grammatically correct way to express a past feeling of deserving something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While the word "entitled" often carries a negative connotation, using the phrase can simply be a statement of a subjective belief or justification. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts and it's essential to be mindful of the implications and potential misinterpretations when using this phrase, particularly in justifying past actions. Exploring alternatives like "I believed I deserved it" or "I expected to receive" can offer nuanced ways to convey the same sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I thought I was owed it

Directly states the feeling of being owed something.

I believed I deserved it

Replaces "felt entitled" with a more direct statement of deserving something.

I considered myself worthy

Focuses on worthiness as the basis for the feeling of entitlement.

I was under the impression I merited it

Highlights the impression or belief that something was merited.

I expected to receive

Emphasizes the expectation aspect of feeling entitled.

I took it as my due

Indicates that something was regarded as rightfully belonging to the speaker.

I had the expectation of receiving it

Focuses on the expectation rather than the feeling of deservingness.

I assumed it was coming to me

Highlights the assumption of receiving something without explicit justification.

I had a sense of ownership

Emphasizes the feeling of having a right to something, as if it were owned.

I presumed I was in line for it

Conveys a presumption of being next in line or deserving of something.

FAQs

What does "I felt entitled" mean?

The phrase "I felt entitled" expresses a past feeling or belief that you deserved something, whether it was a material possession, a certain treatment, or a particular outcome. It suggests a sense of deservingness that may or may not be justified.

How can I use "I felt entitled" in a sentence?

You can use "I felt entitled" to describe a past emotional state, for example: "After working overtime for months, "I felt entitled" to a vacation." or "Looking back, "I felt entitled" because of my family's influence, but now I see it differently."

What can I say instead of "I felt entitled"?

You can use alternatives like "I thought I deserved it", "I believed I was worthy", or "I expected to receive" depending on the context.

Is it always negative to say "I felt entitled"?

Not necessarily. While the word "entitled" often carries negative connotations, using "I felt entitled" can simply be an honest reflection of your past feelings, even if you now recognize that feeling was misguided. The context is crucial.