12 Seemingly Insignificant Behaviors That People Will Resent You For

People will resent you for doing these things.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a light-colored top sits at an outdoor cafe table, gesturing emphatically with one hand. Another woman with long hair, seen from behind and wearing a green garment, sits across from her. Coffee cups are on the table.

Resentment doesn’t come from nowhere—there’s always a cause for this destructive feeling. In fact, it usually stems from a combination of behaviors that get under a person’s skin and eat away at the goodwill they have toward someone. If you want to avoid being the focus of other people’s resentment, avoid doing the following things.

1. You make passive-aggressive comments.

Two people are sitting on a couch, appearing to be in a serious or tense conversation. The person on the left, with pink hair, is looking to the side with a hand resting on their chin. The person on the right, with short red hair, is looking at their watch.

Indirect digs or sarcastic comments create tension and resentment. Many people interpret passive-aggressiveness as avoidance. It’s hard to value or appreciate someone who is avoidant because you can never know if they are telling the truth or sidestepping important issues. This behavior often stems from a fear of confrontation or a desire to maintain control in a situation.

2. You are a one-upper.

A group of people sit around a dining table engaging in conversation. A woman with gray hair gestures with her hands while speaking. A man in a blue shirt listens attentively. The table has food, including a salad, and a vase of colorful flowers.

Everyone wants their moment to shine. You dull that shine when you chime in with your better story about the other person’s experience. Essentially, you are shifting the spotlight of the conversation onto yourself when it isn’t your time. One-upping is frequently rooted in insecurity and a need to prove one’s worth or superiority.

3. You interrupt conversations.

A man and a woman are sitting and having a serious conversation on a gray sofa. The man, wearing a white shirt and tie, is listening intently with his hand on his chin. The woman, wearing glasses and a striped shirt, is gesturing with her hand while speaking.

Constantly cutting people off, whether intentional or not, causes other people to feel disrespected and undervalued. By cutting other people off or talking over them, you are communicating to them that you do not value what they have to say. No one wants to feel that way. This habit can be particularly damaging in professional settings, potentially hindering career advancement.

4. You don’t express gratitude.

Two women sit on a white couch in a modern living room, facing away from each other. The woman in the foreground looks upset, sitting with crossed arms, while the woman in the background also appears unhappy. A blurred "Dream" poster is visible on the wall.

Many people take kindness and help for granted. Niceties such as “please” and “thank you” have seemingly drifted further and further out of social interaction. But these simple phrases are an acknowledgment of appreciation for that person and what they do for you. Lack of gratitude can lead to a sense of entitlement and can erode even the strongest relationships over time.

5. You talk more than you listen.

Two young women are sitting on a couch, engaged in a conversation. The woman on the left, wearing a maroon shirt, looks bored or disinterested, resting her head on her hand. The woman on the right, wearing a grey shirt, is speaking animatedly, using hand gestures.

Good communication is the foundation of any respectful, healthy relationship. Many people talk and talk and talk but they don’t know how to listen. Other people feel unappreciated if you don’t let them talk and make an active effort to hear what they are saying.

6. You don’t acknowledge others’ feelings.

A man with long dark hair, beard, and mustache, wearing a white t-shirt and dark shirt, rests his head on his hand and looks thoughtful. A blurred figure of another person in the background also appears upset. The setting seems to be indoors.

Brushing off someone’s emotions can make them feel invalidated or ignored. Even if it’s not important to you, it’s still necessary to acknowledge the other person’s feelings and concerns. If you don’t, you may find that they stop communicating with you altogether.

7. You are consistently late.

A woman with long, dark hair sits at an outdoor café table, resting her chin on her hand. She wears a red coat and looks thoughtful. In front of her is a dessert glass with whipped cream and a teapot. Her phone is on the table next to her.

Frequently showing up late suggests that you don’t value others’ time. That leads to frustration and resentment for the people who were on time because they planned appropriately. Furthermore, it’s a good way to not get invited to things anymore since lateness can disrupt other plans.

8. You offer unsolicited advice.

Two men sitting on a couch engaged in a serious conversation. One man, dressed in a blue shirt, is gesturing with his right hand while resting his left hand on the other man's shoulder. The second man, wearing a gray t-shirt, is looking down with his hands clasped.

Jumping in with advice when not asked for can make other people feel like you are undermining their ability to handle their own business. While often well-intentioned, unsolicited advice can come across as patronizing or judgmental. There’s nothing wrong with giving advice if it’s asked for, but sometimes it can be hard to tell if someone is venting or asking for advice. Just ask if you are unsure.

9. You brag about yourself.

Three men are in a gym. One is wearing boxing gloves and a sleeveless shirt; the other two are casually dressed. They are standing near workout equipment and appear to be having a friendly conversation.

Bragging is often a nod toward insecurity about oneself. There’s nothing wrong with being proud of an accomplishment. But if you do things like name-drop influential people you know or go on and on and on about your achievement, people will resent you for it. Excessive bragging often has the opposite effect of what’s intended, pushing people away rather than impressing them.

10. You ignore boundaries.

In a kitchen, two women appear to be having a disagreement. The woman in the foreground is looking away, covering her mouth with her hands, while the woman in the background is holding a mug and expressing surprise or frustration.

Overstepping personal, emotional, or physical boundaries can cause discomfort and resentment. That’s true even if the overstepping was unintentional. Typically, you can fix that with an apology and making it up to the other person. But if you don’t, they will resent you for the lack of respect.

11. You minimize others’ accomplishments.

A group of four people are having a discussion in a modern office setting. One person, dressed in a beige suit, is using a smartphone while the others listen and engage. Laptops and notepads are visible on the table in front of them.

Downplaying someone’s success or comparing it to others can diminish their sense of achievement and happiness. No one wants to be made feel bad, especially if they are sharing an accomplishment that makes them feel happy and proud. This behavior often reveals more about the criticizer’s insecurities than the achiever’s accomplishments.

12. You don’t reciprocate in the relationship.

A woman with curly hair and a pensive expression rests her head on her hand, looking into the distance. In the blurred background, a man sits with his arms crossed, facing away. The scene suggests a moment of contemplation or emotional tension.

Relationships are a two-way street. Both parties need to contribute to them to keep them fair, balanced, and healthy. If you don’t reciprocate, the other person may feel as though you don’t value or care about them. The longer that goes on, the more resentment will build.