flatly rejected

USAGE SUMMARY

"flatly rejected" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize that someone strongly refused to do something or accept something. For example: The mayor flatly rejected the proposal to construct a new bridge in the city.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was absolutely, flatly rejected.

The New Yorker

Mr Nazarbaev flatly rejected this.

The Economist

The opposition parties flatly rejected his offer.

The Economist

Mr. Lasseter flatly rejected that notion.

The New York Times

The government flatly rejected such rumors.

The New York Times

Mr. Netanyahu has flatly rejected those.

The New York Times

But Cox flatly rejected the compromise.

The Washington Post

Mr. Ensign flatly rejected the proposal.

The New York Times

Mr. Feinberg flatly rejected the thought.

The New York Times

Dr. Lee's lawyers flatly rejected the charges.

The New York Times

Trump's lawyer flatly rejected the report.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flatly rejected" to convey a sense of decisiveness and finality in the refusal. It's stronger than a simple "rejected" and implies no room for negotiation.

Common error

While "flatly rejected" is widely applicable, it can sound overly formal or severe in casual conversation. Opt for softer alternatives like "turned down" or "declined" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flatly rejected" functions as a verb phrase where the adverb "flatly" modifies the verb "rejected", emphasizing the decisiveness and finality of the refusal. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "flatly rejected" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a firm and decisive refusal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Academic writing, to convey a sense of finality. While it's suitable for most situations, overuse in very informal contexts might sound overly formal. Consider alternatives like "categorically denied" or "firmly declined" to fine-tune the tone of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

categorically denied

This phrase emphasizes a complete and unambiguous denial, often used in response to accusations or claims.

vehemently opposed

This alternative highlights strong feelings of opposition and resistance.

outright refused

Focuses on the act of refusing with no hesitation or qualification.

firmly declined

Indicates a refusal that is resolute and unwavering.

point-blank refused

Emphasizes the directness and bluntness of the refusal.

resolutely turned down

Highlights the determination behind the rejection.

summarily dismissed

Implies a rejection that is quick and without much consideration.

emphatically disagreed with

Highlights a strong statement of disagreement.

unconditionally rejected

Indicates a rejection without any conditions or reservations.

given the thumbs down

An informal way to say something has been rejected.

FAQs

How to use "flatly rejected" in a sentence?

The phrase "flatly rejected" is used to indicate a firm and decisive refusal. For example, "The committee "flatly rejected" the proposed changes to the budget".

What can I say instead of "flatly rejected"?

You can use alternatives like "categorically denied", "vehemently opposed", or "outright refused" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "flatly rejected" or "completely rejected"?

Both "flatly rejected" and "completely rejected" are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different nuances. "Flatly rejected" emphasizes the decisiveness of the rejection, while "completely rejected" emphasizes the extent or thoroughness of the rejection.

What's the difference between "flatly rejected" and "firmly declined"?

"Flatly rejected" suggests a more forceful and potentially dismissive refusal, while "firmly declined" implies a more polite but still resolute refusal.