Jealousy in friendship is real, and it can slowly destroy what was once a beautiful relationship. Sometimes, the signs are subtle, and other times, they are obvious. If you’ve been feeling weird vibes from your best friend lately, this article will help you figure out if jealousy is creeping into your friendship.
Let’s dive into 15 clear signs your best friend is jealous of you and what you can do about it.
1. They Downplay Your Achievements
One major red flag that your best friend is jealous of you is when they never seem happy for your wins. Instead of celebrating your success, they minimize it or act unimpressed.
For example, if you excitedly tell them, "I just got promoted!" and they reply with something like, "Oh, that’s nice. But it’s not like you’re the CEO now." — that’s jealousy talking.
A true friend will hype you up, but a jealous friend will make you feel like your achievement is nothing special.
2. They Compete With You
A little healthy competition can be fun, but when your best friend constantly tries to outshine you, it’s a problem.
- You buy a new phone, they rush to get a more expensive one.
- You start a business, they suddenly want to start one too.
- You get a boyfriend, and they immediately start flaunting theirs.
Instead of being happy for you, a jealous friend sees everything as a competition. They always want to prove they are better than you.
3. They Copy Everything You Do
Have you ever noticed that your friend suddenly starts dressing like you, talking like you, or even making the same life choices as you?
While admiration is normal in friendships, outright copying is a different story. A jealous friend will mimic you not because they admire you, but because they feel threatened and want to prove they can do what you do.
4. They Give Backhanded Compliments
A jealous friend might pretend to compliment you, but their words will always have a hidden insult. For example:
- "Wow, you actually look nice today! I never thought that dress would suit you."
- "I didn’t expect you to pass that exam, but congrats!"
These types of comments are designed to bring you down while pretending to lift you up.
5. They Talk Behind Your Back
If you start hearing rumors about yourself that only your best friend knew, be careful. A jealous friend may gossip about you because deep down, they want to bring you down.
They may pretend to be your biggest supporter in front of you but secretly spread negative things about you to others.
6. They Get Angry When Others Praise You
A good friend will feel proud when people compliment you, but a jealous friend will feel irritated.
For example, if someone says, "Wow, you’re so intelligent!" instead of agreeing, your best friend might say, "Hmm, they just got lucky."
They struggle to see you receive admiration because they secretly wish they were in your place.
7. They Don't Support Your Dreams
Have you ever noticed that your best friend never encourages you when you want to try something new? Instead, they discourage you with statements like:
- "Are you sure you can handle that?"
- "People like us don’t succeed in that industry."
- "Don’t waste your time, it won’t work."
Jealous friends don’t want you to grow because they fear you will become better than them.
8. They Always Make Everything About Themselves
When you talk about your achievements, do they immediately change the topic to themselves?
For example, if you say, "I just got my dream job!" and instead of celebrating you, they say, "That’s cool, but let me tell you what happened to me today!"— they’re not happy for you.
A jealous friend will always shift the attention away from you to themselves because they don’t want you to shine.
9. They Are Happy When You Fail
This is one of the biggest and most dangerous signs of jealousy. A jealous friend might pretend to be sympathetic, but deep down, they are happy when things go wrong for you.
If you notice they are acting too comfortable when you experience a setback, they might secretly enjoy seeing you struggle.
10. They Don’t Like Your Other Friends
A jealous best friend may try to isolate you from others because they want to be the only person in your life.
They might say things like:
- "That new friend of yours looks fake."
- "Be careful, people just want to use you."
The truth is, they are afraid you will find better friends and leave them behind.
11. They Always Bring Up Your Past Failures
A jealous friend will constantly remind you of the times you failed, even when it’s unnecessary.
Instead of supporting you, they remind you of your past mistakes, making you doubt yourself.
For example, if you say you want to start a business, they might say, "You remember the last time you tried and failed, right?"
They don’t want you to succeed because your success threatens them.
12. They Always Find Fault in You
No matter what you do, a jealous friend will always find a reason to criticize you.
You post a nice picture, and they say, "Your dress is nice, but your makeup is too much."
You cook a nice meal, and they say, "It’s good, but it’s not as tasty as mine."
They can never give you a genuine compliment without pointing out a flaw.
13. They Make You Feel Guilty for Your Success
Have you ever felt bad about achieving something great because your best friend made you feel guilty?
For example, if you get a scholarship and they didn’t, they might say:
- "You’re so lucky, some of us have to suffer."
- "Must you always be the one getting everything?"
They try to make you feel bad for achieving your goals instead of being happy for you.
14. They Are Secretly Competing With Your Relationship
If you get into a happy relationship, a jealous friend might suddenly start behaving strangely. Such as;
- They try to make you feel like your partner is not good enough.
- They suddenly start getting jealous when you spend time with your partner.
- They try to show off their own relationship to make you feel less special.
A jealous friend will struggle to see you happy in love.
15. Your Instincts Tell You Something Is Wrong
At the end of the day, your gut feeling is powerful. If you constantly feel bad or uncomfortable around your best friend, don’t ignore it.
Friendship should feel safe, not like a silent battle.
What Should You Do If Your Best Friend Is Jealous of You?
If you’ve noticed these signs, here’s what you can do:
- Have an honest conversation: Tell them what you’ve noticed and how it makes you feel.
- Set boundaries: You don’t have to share everything with them, especially if they use it against you.
- Focus on positive relationships: Surround yourself with friends who genuinely support you.
- Let go if necessary: Some friendships are not meant to last. If the jealousy is affecting your peace, it’s okay to walk away.
Conclusion
Jealousy can destroy even the closest friendships. If your best friend is jealous of you, it’s important to handle it wisely. True friendship is about love and support, not competition and envy.
Surround yourself with people who truly want the best for you, and never feel guilty for your success.
Have you ever experienced jealousy in friendship? Share your thoughts in the comments!