I’ve learned that not everyone who smiles at you is actually on your side. Sometimes, people hide their true feelings, and if someone secretly dislikes you, they won’t always come right out and say it.
Instead, their feelings will show up in small, subtle ways—through their actions, body language, and even the way they talk to you.
The good news? Once you know what to look for, these behaviors become pretty easy to spot.
Here are eight subtle signs that someone might secretly dislike you.
1) Their smile doesn’t reach their eyes
A fake smile is one of the biggest giveaways that someone secretly dislikes you.
Sure, they might smile when they see you, but if you look closely, you’ll notice something is off. Their mouth may be smiling, but their eyes stay cold and distant.
Genuine smiles create small wrinkles around the eyes—often called “crow’s feet.” If those aren’t there, chances are their smile isn’t real.
It’s a subtle sign, but once you start paying attention, it becomes easy to spot.
2) They give short, one-word responses
I once worked with someone who I always felt a little uneasy around. They were polite, but something just didn’t feel right.
Whenever I tried to start a conversation, their responses were always short and closed off.
“How’s your day going?”—“Fine.”
“Did you do anything fun this weekend?”—“No.”
It was like pulling teeth to get more than a word or two out of them. Over time, I realized they weren’t interested in talking to me at all. They didn’t want to be rude, but they also didn’t want to engage.
If someone regularly gives you short, uninterested responses, it might be a sign they secretly don’t like you.
3) Their body points away from you
When we like someone, our body naturally faces them. It’s an unconscious sign of interest and engagement.
But when someone secretly dislikes you, their body language will often tell a different story. Their feet might point toward the nearest exit, their torso may turn slightly away, or they might angle their shoulders toward someone else in the room.
This happens because, on a subconscious level, our bodies try to create distance from people we’re not comfortable with.
If you notice someone consistently positioning themselves away from you—even when you’re talking—it could be a sign they don’t enjoy being around you.
4) They rarely make eye contact
Eye contact is one of the strongest ways people connect with each other. When someone likes and respects you, they’ll naturally meet your gaze during conversations.
But if someone secretly dislikes you, they may avoid eye contact as much as possible. They might glance away quickly, look around the room while you’re speaking, or focus on something else entirely.
This avoidance isn’t always intentional—it’s often a subconscious reaction. Discomfort, disinterest, or even mild resentment can make it harder for them to maintain eye contact with you.
If you notice someone consistently dodging your gaze, it could be a subtle sign that they don’t feel comfortable around you.
5) They don’t celebrate your wins
When someone truly cares about you, they share in your happiness. Whether it’s a big achievement or a small victory, they’ll congratulate you, cheer you on, and genuinely feel happy for your success.
But when someone secretly dislikes you, your wins might make them uncomfortable. Instead of celebrating with you, they may give a half-hearted “That’s nice” or change the subject entirely. Some might even downplay your success or act indifferent, as if it doesn’t matter.
It’s a painful thing to realize—not everyone in your life wants to see you succeed. But the way people react to your good news can reveal how they really feel about you. True friends will lift you up, not hold back their support.
6) They exclude you from group conversations
Few things feel worse than standing in a group and realizing you’re being left out. You try to join in, but the conversation moves around you, as if you’re not even there.
They don’t ask for your opinion. They don’t make eye contact. When you do speak, no one really engages with what you said.
It’s not always obvious or intentional, but it sends a clear message—you’re not part of their circle.
Being excluded like this can make you question yourself, but the truth is, it says more about them than it does about you. People who truly value you will make space for you in conversations, not subtly push you out.
7) They don’t laugh at your jokes
Laughter is one of the simplest ways people bond. Even if a joke isn’t that funny, friends and people who like you will often chuckle just to keep the conversation warm and friendly.
But when someone secretly dislikes you, they won’t make that effort. They might give a forced smile, stay silent, or just move on without reacting at all.
It’s not that they didn’t hear you—it’s that they don’t want to encourage the connection. Their lack of response is a quiet way of showing disinterest or even mild resentment.
If this happens occasionally, it might not mean much. But if someone consistently refuses to engage with your humor, it could be a sign they don’t enjoy your presence.
8) Their energy feels off
You can sense it, even if you can’t explain it. Something about the way they interact with you feels forced, distant, or tense.
Maybe their tone is a little too flat when they speak to you. Maybe their responses feel obligatory rather than engaged. Or maybe there’s just an unspoken awkwardness whenever you’re around them.
People can fake smiles, polite words, and even friendly gestures—but energy doesn’t lie. If you constantly feel like something is off when you’re with someone, trust that feeling.
bottom line: trust your intuition
Human interactions are layered with subtle cues, many of which we pick up on without even realizing it.
Research in psychology suggests that our brains are wired to detect microexpressions—fleeting facial expressions that reveal true emotions. Even when someone is trying to hide their feelings, these tiny signals can betray them.
This might explain why you sometimes feel uneasy around certain people without knowing exactly why. Your subconscious is picking up on something your conscious mind hasn’t fully processed yet.
At the end of the day, if someone’s behavior consistently makes you feel unwanted or uncomfortable, trust that instinct. You don’t need a clear reason to know when something isn’t right.
