12 Signs Someone Is Backstabbing You (and What to Do About It)

Figure out if someone is betraying your trust

Co-authored by Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS and Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: June 11, 2025 Fact Checked

True friendships are hard to find, and they’re even harder when you’re trying to figure out whether someone is genuine or not. Since backstabbers speak kindly to your face but badly when you’re not around, it can be hard to point one out, even if they’re right in front of you. However, if you know a backstabber, there’s a good chance you’ll recognize some—or all—of these signs. Keep reading to learn how to spot a backstabber, with valuable insights from psychologists and relationship experts.

How to Tell if You're Being Backstabbed

Signs that someone is backstabbing you include gossiping about other people to you, giving you backhanded compliments, and exaggerating your mistakes. At work, they might try to steal your ideas or sabotage you, and they'll try to embarrass you among friends. If someone is backstabbing you, distance yourself from them.

1

They talk badly about other people.

Download Article

Your conversations are probably full of gossip and drama. When someone only has negative things to say about other people, chances are, they’re talking badly about you, too. If you and this person don’t have anything else to talk about, there’s a good chance they’re not a true friend.
- You might sit back and realize that you two actually don’t have anything in common besides your love of gossip.

2

They give you backhanded compliments.

Download Article

Whenever they say something “nice,” you feel bad about yourself. A backstabber will always try to stay in your good graces, but they won’t actually say anything genuinely nice to you. Backhanded compliments might sound like a good thing at first, but they’re actually made to embarrass you. For instance, you might hear something like:^{[1]
X
Research source}
- “You’re so brave to wear that dress out!”
- “I didn’t expect you to get that promotion. Congratulations!”
- “You clean up so well.”

3

They flirt with your significant other.

Download Article

Backstabbers do this to make you jealous. Even if your partner doesn’t respond or actively shuts them down, they won’t stop. If you call them out on it, they might claim it was a joke or that you’re just too sensitive.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- This unwanted flirting can really make your partner feel uncomfortable, too. Be sure to check in with them to make sure they’re all right.

4

They’re jealous of your other friends.

Download Article

A backstabber might act offended if you hang out without them. They might accuse you of liking other people more or hating them as a person. Even though that’s not true, you might find yourself hanging out with your other friends less just to avoid making a backstabber mad.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- If you invite them along to a group hang, they’ll probably decline. That’s because they don’t want to share you with anyone else, even if it means they’ll have fun, too.
- If you’re dealing with a jealous friend, set firm boundaries with them. If they don’t agree to these boundaries, it may be time to end the friendship.

5

They exaggerate your mistakes.

Download Article

If you do anything wrong, they make it sound terrible. They might go around to all your friends or coworkers and talk about how much you messed up. Even if it wasn’t terrible, they make it seem like the end of the world.^{[4]
X
Trustworthy Source

Harvard Business Review
Online and print journal covering topics related to business management practices

Go to source}
- For instance, maybe you forgot a deadline at work. Even if you fixed it quickly and already talked to the boss about it, a backstabber will spread rumors to your coworkers that you’re probably going to get fired.

6

They sabotage your work.

Download Article

They might keep you up late the night before a big presentation. If they know you have a test coming up, they might insist on hanging out so you can’t study. Backstabbers don’t want to see you succeed, so they’ll do anything in their power to hold you back.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- These things are usually subtle, and you might not even notice that it’s happening right away.
- For instance, they might intentionally leave you out of a study group so you do badly on the final exam. Or, they might “forget” to send you the data you need to complete a presentation at work.
- Clinical psychologist Nancy Lin, PhD, encourages you to set a strong boundary when it comes to not tolerating deceptive behavior from “friends.” She says, “If [they did] something that was meant to actually injure you—just stay away. [Your friendship] is done, it’s over.”^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Nancy Lin, PhD
  Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  
  Expert Interview}

7

They make plans without you.

Download Article

A backstabber might purposely exclude you from plans. If you confront them about it, they might say that they just forgot or that you’re always invited to come along. However, they were likely trying to make you feel bad by hanging out with mutual friends when you aren’t around.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- They might also try to plan events when they know you can’t make it, like when you’re out of town.

8

You feel embarrassed or insulted around them.

Download Article

You might feel like you’re on edge about what they’re going to say. If you feel like you can’t relax around this person because you’re worried they might make fun of you, that’s a red flag. Nice people want to uplift you and make you feel good, while backstabbers just want to tear you down.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Sometimes friends goof around and tease each other, which is fine. However, a backstabber usually takes it too far by making their insults personal or intentionally making you look bad in front of other people.
- Reader Poll: We asked 814 wikiHow readers what’s the strongest indicator someone doesn’t want to be your friend, and only 9% of them agreed that they tease you a lot. [Take Poll] Remember, teasing is different from insulting or criticizing. If your friend’s words or actions hurt, make sure to tell them how you feel to see if they adjust their behavior.

9

You feel like you’re competing with them.

Download Article

A backstabber might try to one-up you in every conversation. If you say that you’re feeling sad because of a bad grade, they might say that they’re feeling sad because their mom is sick (which is way worse). You can never have a normal conversation with them about your problems, because they always say, “Me too.”
- This goes for good things as well. For instance, you might tell a friend that you talked to your crush today, and they’ll tell you that they’re going on a date with their crush tomorrow.
- You’ll probably feel like you can never win, which is the goal of a backstabber.

10

They only think about themselves.

Download Article

They put their needs above everyone else’s. They might only hit you up when they need something, and they probably won’t feel bad about that. If you feel like you’re giving more than you’re getting, you might be getting stabbed in the back.
- This person would also probably get mad at you if you called them up and asked them for a favor.
- Clinical psychologist Tala Johartchi, PsyD, speaks on the importance of balance in all relationships: “You want to evaluate the dynamic and make sure that there is balance in the relationship, that it's not one-sided. You don’t want to be giving all of your time consistently, and then feeling like your energy is being sucked up in return.”^{[9]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Tala Johartchi, PsyD
  Clinical Psychologist
  
  Expert Interview}

11

They always paint themselves as the victim.

Download Article

Whenever they tell you a story, they’re in the right. You might hear about how their friends, family members, coworkers, or classmates did them wrong today and why it’s hard to be them. You’ll never hear them admit to their mistakes, because they don’t think they’re ever wrong.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- If you ever ask them to apologize to you for something, they probably won’t do it.
- Johartchi adds, “If you're always constantly falling into a role of rescuing them, or feeling like you're constantly being needed, those would be red flags.”^{[11]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Tala Johartchi, PsyD
  Clinical Psychologist
  
  Expert Interview}

12

You feel like you can’t share your accomplishments with them.

Download Article

Backstabbers probably get angry when you’re doing well. If you share good news with them, like a promotion at work or a good grade, they won’t look happy. In fact, they might even get upset with you and ask you why you’re bragging, even when you’re not.
- Good friends will always be happy when you’re doing well, even if they’re not. You should be able to share your accomplishments without someone getting angry at you.
- Matchmaker Abby Rosenblum advises that you should stay away from backstabbers. She says, “Distance yourself from that person because they gave you a sign that they are not trustworthy, and they’re probably not someone that you want in your life.”^{[12]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Abby Rosenblum
  Matchmaker
  
  Expert Interview}
- Rosenblum adds that you should keep your physical and virtual distance, explaining, “You might unfollow them or block them just so you don't have to see everything that they're posting.”^{[13]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Abby Rosenblum
  Matchmaker
  
  Expert Interview}

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

If you’re dealing with a backstabber, Rosenblum suggests reaching out to a coach or therapist to help you process some of those emotions, as she knows it can be “a pretty awful feeling.”^{[14]
X
Expert Source

Abby Rosenblum
Matchmaker

Expert Interview}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
If you feel like you’re being backstabbed, it’s probably time to distance yourself from this person. They’re not a good friend, acquaintance, or peer to have because they don’t actually care about you.

Thanks
Helpful 7 Not Helpful 1
People often backstab because they’re insecure or want to gain something at the expense of others. Their actions say more about them than they do about you.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0