refused me

USAGE SUMMARY

"refused me" is a correct and commonly used part of a sentence in written English.
It is often used to indicate that someone has declined or denied a request or proposal. Here is an example sentence: I asked my boss for a raise, but she refused me, saying that there was no budget for it this year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

After eight months of waiting, they refused me.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Sheffield originally refused me a place for dentistry," she says.

The Guardian

Angolan police, over-reacting badly, kicked some Tunisian journalists out of the mixed zone and refused me access.

Independent

I spoke to her father on the phone, but he refused me because I don't have any money.

The Guardian

"She had never refused me anything, and I felt she would not refuse me as a husband".

The New York Times - Books

I explained that I just wanted to help the victims, and he refused me again, then pulled out his gun and fired a warning shot over my head".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

"I was surprised they didn't refuse me.

The Guardian - Business

I used to go after this girl almost every day, and she kept refusing me.

The New York Times

"No reason was given to me for refusing me," she complained to Reynold's News.

The Guardian - Books

"I don't see how they can refuse me," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

But it troubled me to read of his decision to visit his nursing-home-bound mother unannounced, since she "couldn't communicate" and "could no longer refuse me".

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "refused me", ensure the context clearly indicates what was being requested or offered that was subsequently denied. For example, "She refused me the loan" clarifies the object of refusal.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly specifying what was refused. For instance, instead of saying "They refused me", clarify with "They refused me access to the building" to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refused me" functions as a transitive verb followed by an indirect object. It indicates that someone has denied something to the speaker. Ludwig AI provides many examples where this phrase is used to express denial of access, permission, or assistance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refused me" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to indicate that a request or offer has been denied. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, it's important to clearly specify what was refused to avoid ambiguity. While "refused me" itself has a neutral register, the surrounding words can influence the tone. Consider alternatives like "denied my request" or "rejected my application" for more formal situations. By understanding these nuances, you can effectively communicate instances of refusal in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Rejected my request

This alternative replaces "refused" with "rejected" and adds "my request" to clarify what was refused.

Refused my entry

This alternative uses "my entry" and specifies that entry was not allowed.

Denied my application

This alternative substitutes "refused" with "denied" and uses "my application", indicating a formal refusal.

Denied me access

This alternative replaces "refused" with "denied" and indicates a refusal of access.

Turned down my offer

This alternative uses the phrasal verb "turned down" and specifies "my offer" as the item being refused.

Declined my invitation

This alternative replaces "refused" with "declined" and indicates that an invitation was refused.

Would not allow me

This alternative uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate refusal in terms of permission.

Did not grant me

This alternative emphasizes the act of withholding something that was requested.

Said no to my proposal

This alternative is more conversational and specifies that a proposal was rejected.

Rebuffed my advances

This alternative uses "Rebuffed" instead of refused and "my advances" to indicate that advances were not accepted.

FAQs

How can I use "refused me" in a sentence?

You can use "refused me" to indicate that someone denied you something you requested. For example, "The bank "refused me a loan"".

What's a formal alternative to "refused me"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "denied my request" or "rejected my application".

Is it always clear what is being refused when using "refused me"?

No, it's essential to provide context to avoid ambiguity. Specify what was refused, such as "The editor "refused me permission" to publish the article".

Which is more appropriate, "refused me" or "denied me"?

Both "refused me" and "denied me" are appropriate, but "denied me" often implies a more formal or official rejection, such as "They "denied me access" to the facility".