10 Phrases Used By People Who Are Really Difficult To Be Around

Not many people want to be around someone who uses these phrases.

A man in an orange shirt sits at a table, engaged in a conversation with another person in a blue shirt. They are in a bright setting with shelves visible in the background. The man appears to be listening attentively.

Some people are such a drain to be around. They suck the life out of any room with their personality, actions, and words. And it’s their words that we’re going to concentrate on here with this list of insensitive and annoying phrases that make everyone run screaming for the exits.

1. “I’m just being brutally honest!”

A woman with curly hair, wearing a pink shirt, gestures with open palms while sitting on a sofa. Beside her, another woman with red hair sits with arms crossed. A glass of water and a small plant are on the wooden table in front.

Brutally honest people tend to go heavier on the brutality than the honesty. Honesty doesn’t need to be cruel or insensitive. It can be given kindly with a few minutes of thought put toward how you phrase and present the information. No one wants to be brutalized under the guise of helpful honesty. In many cases, people aren’t even interested in your opinion about their life unless asked.

2. “That’s not my problem.”

A person with long red hair and black-framed glasses is making a pouty face with wide-open eyes. They hold their hands up near their chin, palms facing outward. They are wearing a light blue shirt and are set against a plain background.

It may not be. However, it may also be a refusal to take responsibility for one’s actions or show compassion for others’ concerns. “That’s not my problem” communicates that you have no interest in how that person is feeling, how they’re doing, or how you could help. A little empathy goes a long way, and people who can’t show empathy will find themselves alone, sooner or later.

3. “You’re too sensitive.”

Sensitivity is in the eye of the beholder. There are people out there with a thick skin who enjoy dishing it and taking it. Then there are other people who are more sensitive than others. This phrase dismisses others’ feelings and invalidates their emotions, making them feel unheard and weak. In some cases, this may just be a personality clash more than anyone being wrong or right.

4. “I don’t care what anyone thinks.”

A man and a woman sit at a table, engaged in lively conversation. The man wears an orange shirt and has a thoughtful expression. The woman, in a white top, smiles. Papers and drinks are on the table, suggesting a casual meeting.

Confidence is positive, but this phrase comes off as arrogant and dismissive. One does not need to comply with what anyone else thinks, but one does need the ability to listen. A person unable to listen is someone who will not accept criticism or care about social norms that may matter or be hurtful to others. It is a statement of blind ignorance instead of independence and confidence.

5. “I’m always right.”

A man with glasses, dark hair, and a beard wears a black suit and a white shirt. He is gesturing with both hands against a dark background, appearing to be speaking or presenting.

No one is always right. “I’m always right” communicates to others that you either have no self-awareness or you don’t care about what other people think. Other people want to be heard and involved even if you think you’re right. Besides, you may end up learning new things about the subject that you wouldn’t otherwise know by considering others. No one needs to always be right because no one wants to be micromanaged.

6. “I hate drama, but…”

Two women are sitting at an outdoor table, each holding a takeaway coffee cup. They are engaged in conversation, with one gesturing as she speaks. The background is softly blurred, suggesting a casual, relaxed setting.

This is a phrase that means they hate when drama affects them, but they love other people’s drama. These people don’t care about the bad situations that other individuals may be dealing with, so long as they get their entertainment out of it. It signifies low empathy and just a lack of care about other people in general. They may also be the one instigating the drama if they are tossing statements like these around.

7. “You’re overreacting.”

Two men are seated on a bed in a bedroom, engaged in a heated conversation. One man, wearing a plaid shirt, gestures with his hands. The other man, with a bald head and in a blue cardigan, responds animatedly. A brick wall and a neatly made bed are in the background.

“You’re overreacting” is a phrase that the self-absorbed use to avoid accountability or shut down a discussion, usually about their bad actions. It minimizes someone else’s emotions, communicating to them that their feelings and perspectives don’t matter. In many cases it also denotes a lack of respect for the other person, because they’re not interested in hearing why that person is responding with such emotion.

8. “Why can’t you be more like [other person]?”

A young woman with long brown hair sits on a couch, looking away thoughtfully with her chin resting on her hand. An older woman with curly blonde hair and glasses sits behind her, appearing to speak to her with an expressive gesture.

People who use this phrase are less interested in you as a fully realized person and more interested in someone they can use or manipulate. A lot of times, the person they are comparing you to is someone who is more agreeable or better suits the person’s agenda. In this case, a self-absorbed person is more concerned with how you are benefiting them (or not as the case may be) instead of who you are as an individual.

9. “It’s not my fault.”

Two women are sitting at a wooden table in a cozy café, engaged in an animated conversation. Each has a takeaway coffee cup in front of them, along with their smartphones. One woman is gesturing with her hands, while the other listens attentively.

People who claim to never be at fault stand out like a sore thumb. They have no self-awareness to realize that, yes, everyone does wrong things from time to time. What you do about those wrongs is what truly matters. A person who can’t accept fault is also incapable of having healthy, functional relationships because they can’t take responsibility. They are unable to care about others’ feelings.

10. “If you really cared about me, you’d…”

A woman and a man are standing in a modern kitchen, engaged in a serious conversation. The woman is pointing her finger, while the man looks back at her with open palms. Shelves with books, a toaster, and jars are visible in the background.

This act of manipulation is often done by people who don’t care about you as a person. They are mostly interested in what you can do to benefit them. They don’t see an issue with this kind of behavior because they are self-absorbed, and other people exist to fulfill their needs. People in a healthy relationship will respect one another’s boundaries if they don’t want to do something.