How to break up with someone nicely and still be friends To help you out, we've put together some tips on how to end a friends with benefits situation as painlessly as possible. Keep it short, sweet, and direct, instead of leaving them wondering. Nov 4, 2024 · Learn how to break up respectfully with practical tips, from making a clean break to choosing the right words. Or it may be the shared goal of being lovingly united co-parents. Apr 13, 2024 · If you’ve gone on a few dates with someone and you just aren’t feeling it, breaking it off can be tough. Apr 20, 2025 · You have a sweet romantic partner who has never done anything to hurt you and possibly loves you, but for some reason, you want to break up with them. Oct 25, 2025 · Ending a relationship properly calls for mutual respect, grace, and maturity. Before having the talk, go over the reasons you want to break up and rehearse what you'll say. May 26, 2021 · There are plenty of good reasons to break up with someone, and many of them exist even if you’re still madly in love with the person. Or it may be a specific hobby. Learn more in our guide to dumping someone in a nice way. This is perfectly fine; if it doesn't work out now, it probably never will. Healing takes time. If email or text is the only alternative, it is still better than disappearing and leaving the person confused and consumed with self-doubts. Putting the blame on them will just make you look cocky and make them really hurt. However, it can also be a challenging stage to navigate, especially if one person isn’t as Jun 15, 2023 · It’s also possible to end the relationship amicably and while doing your best to hurt their feelings as little as possible. Think about what you're going to say in advance. This post will show you how you can break up nicely and respectfully with your soon-to-be ex. Don't numb yourself with alcohol and drugs. If you can relate to this fear then it could be especially important for you to learn how to be happy on your own. We’ve compiled a list of a few helpful tips so you can end it with the person you aren’t dating as nicely as possible. Just bite the bullet If you’re delivering the news, you have one job: be clear, respectful, and kind. All breakups are difficult, but these 9 tips will help make it easier to do the right thing. Dec 7, 2024 · A version of this article appears in print on Feb. For some people, seeing their ex can feel painful — especially seeing them with someone new. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it — there are plenty of good Jan 11, 2024 · After deciding you want to break up with a friend, having a conversation in person is a respectful and considerate approach. In-person is preferable for closure on both sides. Nov 27, 2024 · Ending a friends with benefits relationship can be tricky, but it's totally possible to call things off while staying friends and not hurting the other person's feelings. Remember, a little kindness and courtesy often go a long way. May 28, 2020 · It's hard to leave someone you care about but ultimately can't be with. Here are some of the ways in which you can break up with your significant other. Oct 24, 2017 · There's no good way to dump someone. Jul 29, 2025 · A step-by-step guide to ending a relationship with someone you love Breaking up with a significant other can be upsetting for both parties, but there are ways to go about it that will help you treat the other person with respect and Jul 18, 2024 · I once experienced a painful breakup when an ex simply refused to say anything or have any contact with me. Jun 20, 2025 · Identify your role in toxic relationships. If your friendship is more toxic than beneficial, it might be time to end it. Sep 19, 2025 · Friendships are supposed to make our lives better, not worse. Dec 18, 2017 · If you want to break up with someone you love, live with, or care about - for whatever reasons - you need a strategy to do it nicely and with minimum hurt. 5, 2025, Section A, Page 3 of the New York edition with the headline: Here to Help; How to Break Up With a Friend. Nov 6, 2025 · In this article, we ask relationship experts how to break up with someone without being a jerk. Some people find a way to stay friends after they break up. Have the conversation in person if possible to show respect for their feelings. Meanwhile, the young woman was heavily influenced by her beliefs and a strong attachment to another couple. They realize that all relationships wax and wane, and do their best to look at Oct 23, 2017 · Dating and Relationship psychologist Madeleine Mason gives us tips on how to break up with someone in the nicest possible way. Sep 20, 2025 · Breaking up is hard! If you're planning to break up with your boyfriend, you may be feeling nervous or unsure. Jul 29, 2024 · Learn how to break up with someone in a mature and compassionate way. Explain your reasons calmly without playing a blame game or sugar-coating them so much that they become blurry and dangle false hope (more on this later). Apr 8, 2025 · Wondering how to break up with someone without causing pain? Discover expert-approved strategies for ending a relationship kindly, with empathy and respect Jun 6, 2024 · So, how to exit a relationship properly and respectfully? Here are 12 things to do: Do it face-to-face in an appropriate venue. We’ve all been in this situation: You go on one or two dates with someone only to realize it’s not going anywhere. End things maturely. These quotes will guide you through the tough emotions and towards a brighter future. For example, alignment may be wanting to be family members still. How to break up with someone without being a jerk and why it’s important. Remember that you can only become friends if your ex want the same thing as well. It doesn't bring people closer. Then follow our 5 tips on how to break up with your partner as nicely as you can. Kudos to you for being one of the good ones. Despite knowing her partner was involved with multiple other girls, she still clung to him like a child. Some people Oct 24, 2025 · Wanna know how to break up with someone nicely and still be friends? When you have maturity as the base of your action, you will see that the break up will run well. Feb 22, 2022 · When you’ve come to the end of the road, how do you break up with someone you love without hurting them? Get five helpful strategies from a behavioral health psychologist. Here are your main options to stop being friends with someone: Gradually reduce the amount of time you spend with your friend and withdraw contact until the friendship fades away. The question isn't so much how to break up with someone but how to do it in a way that's not rife with sadness Jul 15, 2021 · Breaking up with someone you're still in love with can be painful, but sometimes, it's necessary. Wang: Feb 2, 2022 · While it’s never easy to call off a friendship, sometimes it’s for the best. From high school buddies to adult pals, breakups happen. It's common to feel alone after breaking up, your friends and family can soften the blow for you. Jan 16, 2025 · Break up with a friend while protecting their feelingsEnding a friendship can be just as tricky as ending a relationship. Keep reading to learn how you can break up with someone over text kindly, without making them feel bad. However, you can still be honest while letting your soon-to-be-ex down gently. Apr 3, 2024 · Here’s how to break up with someone, according to relationship therapists who know just how hard it is to do. Aug 20, 2025 · Breakups are hard enough, but when you live together and can't move out right away, it can take a little work to make sure things go smoothly. Jun 2, 2016 · Most people who commit to a long-term relationship feel positive about their chances of staying with their partner. Knowing that, to build a new relationship, we need to build it around where the alignment does exist. 143 Breakup Friendship Quotes “The Jul 2, 2024 · The process of breaking up, especially with someone who has done nothing wrong, is a complex dance between honesty, kindness, and self-preservation. Alternatively, consider letting the friendship naturally fizzle out. You may consistently play a certain role in relationships that is negative to you. There are plenty of ways you can kindly, but firmly end your friendship with people who don’t have your best interests at heart. Mental health experts share how you can end a friendship in the healthiest ways. [1] You might know after just 1 or 2 dates that the Feb 7, 2025 · How to break up with someone over text Because so much can get lost in translation over text, it’s important to craft your message strategically. This way, you can both grieve without watchful eyes. Look at your history with friends, romantic relationships, and family relationships. Oct 8, 2021 · What to do when you want to stop being friends If you recognize some of these signs, you may wonder how to end the friendship with minimal drama. You may even want to practice on a friend or in front of a mirror, or Aug 12, 2025 · Fake and insincere people can really bring you down, and it’s even worse if they’re your friends. Experts weigh in on how and when to break up with someone, plus what to do in the aftermath of a breakup. Jun 5, 2025 · She broke up with her friend group after 15 years. Apr 15, 2025 · When breaking up with someone, a call might result in too many questions that could change your mind or result in confusion, and an in-person meeting might get too emotional. Jan 23, 2024 · Breaking up is never easy or fun, but you can still minimize the pain. . How to break up with some one gracefully and respectfully. Nov 7, 2025 · Breaking up is hard to do. May 23, 2022 · Ghosting and orbiting are among the "worst" ways to break up with someone. Jun 27, 2025 · Learn how to end relationships with honesty and respect while minimizing pain. When you're ready, do it in Jul 26, 2024 · When you're wondering how to break up with someone, try to keep honesty and openness at the center of the conversation. With thoughtfulness and care, you can end things in a way that acknowledges your shared history while creating space for both people to heal and move forward separately. His mom still messages me on Instagram occasionally to see what I’m up to. Focus on explaining your decision without placing blame or leaving room for misinterpretation. If you want to stay friends, say that — but don't say things that will purposely hurt their feelings. Jan 12, 2025 · Reflect on Your Reasons for Ending the Friendship Before you decide to end a friendship, take some time to think about why you want to do it. Fortunately, our guide has plenty of tips on how to set boundaries and keep the peace while you Jun 20, 2025 · Sometimes you have to break up with someone you love. We’ve consulted relationship and psychology experts about how to break up with your girlfriend nicely—check out our guide below. How to (Kindly) Break Up with Someone Via Text There is a time and way to do it the right way. One of the friends I still have was her friend first (they broke up at the same time we did), and she has now slept with at least 5 of her exes-- though most of that happened pre-breakup. Dec 5, 2018 · The article brings to you 5 ways to break up with someone you love without bad blood. Mar 19, 2025 · Breakups are tough! If you're considering breaking up with someone, you might appreciate this guide that helps you prepare for the breakup, have the conversation gracefully, and then what to do afterward. Feb 24, 2021 · The moment you break up with someone, they will feel vulnerable. It takes time to get over hurt feelings or rejection. Jun 13, 2023 · The talking stage is a key period in any relationship that can make or break it’s future. Types of breakups Friendship breakups: friends may drift apart over time, experience a change in shared interests or social circles, or realize they want different things Romantic What's the best way to break up with someone? Relationships end for a lot of reasons. These tips may help: Prepare. People who had to break up but still love each other and stayed friends, how did you move on? Sep 30, 2015 · How to Break Up With Someone Effectively The results of the research above offer some clear strategies for ending a romantic relationship with minimal hurt, pain, and drama. And yes, it is possible. Keep your breakup text concise but thoughtful. Jan 21, 2025 · But still. Sep 27, 2022 · A relationship expert and therapist share how to end a friendship without hurting their feelings. Apr 15, 2022 · "The kindest way to break up with someone is to sit down with them face to face and ensure that you communicate your feelings clearly. But when something happens and you need to sever that connection, you can feel like a boat on choppy waters without a rudder. […] May 19, 2020 · Here’s how to break up with someone nicely. After breaking up: Tell your friends and family right away. To help you navigate these challenges, PS Jul 31, 2025 · Don't break up with him when there are lots of people around, it will make him mad and he might spread rumors or be rude and mean in other ways. Here's exactly how to break up with someone you love, no matter how hard. Nov 2, 2023 · We suggest 30 text messages you can use to break up with someone instead of ghosting them. Jun 27, 2024 · How to Break Up With Someone Nicely Over Text Breaking up with someone in a kind and considerate way is totally possible, but keep in mind the individual on the receiving end is going to interpret whatever you say in a unique way that you can't predict. Nov 9, 2023 · Friends are the people we choose to love for no other reason than because of who they are. Healing your mind and heart may take time, though. Leaving a door open in this way when you know it’s really closed can end up being more hurtful, even if you’re trying to let someone down gently. Breakups happen for many reasons. Oct 8, 2020 · Discover the 7 ways to know when to end a long distance relationship. You don’t need their permission to break up. Jan 10, 2025 · Breaking up with someone you care about is hard. If you want to know how to break up with someone you love and possibly live with, there's unfortunately no exact script that works for every situation. Try just to be acquaintances at least. However, falling back on platitudes like “we’ve grown apart” could leave them feeling there’s more to the story or you haven’t been fully honest. Jan 10, 2025 · Here, therapists, psychologists, and other relationship experts share advice for how to kindly and effectively break up with someone. Now it’s 10 years later. Mar 22, 2023 · Knowing how to break up with someone you live with can be challenging. This can be incredibly difficult, but there are things you can do to make it a bit easier for everyone involved. Assess your feelings May 24, 2018 · Are you certain you need to bail out of your relationship, but worried about the way it might crash and burn? These guidelines can help you land it safely. I think she was the most heartbroken that we broke up. Here's how to break up with someone as gently and effectively as possible. The key is making distance and Why should you learn to break up with someone nicely? It's the key to gaining the moral high ground and staying on good terms with your ex! Feb 6, 2023 · Discover how to prepare yourself for a breakup - the things you can do to make it easier mentally, emotionally, and practically, both for yourself and your soon to be ex. To do this, focus on your experience and not their flaws, and try to avoid long justifications or blame. Losing a friend can be as hard as breaking up with a lover, but it's necessary when things just aren't working out. Aug 27, 2024 · Is it possible to initiate a breakup with someone without hurting them? A social worker and a relationship expert’s advice on how to prepare for a breakup when nothing’s wrong, what to say, and how to move on afterward. With the shared history between you and your ex, it's only natural to want to 6 days ago · Here, two relationship experts offer advice on how to break up with someone you love, giving tips on how to navigate this less-than-ideal situation with care and empathy. If breaking up with someone were easy, I wouldn’t be writing this article. But there are ways to reject someone nicely and turn them down gently. To help you navigate these challenges, PS Jan 13, 2023 · The takeaway It's not easy to break up with someone you love, especially when you're accustomed to having them in your daily life. Learn the 10 fundamental principles to ending and recovering from your past relationship. We are friendly whenever we see each other (still have mutual friends) and email every so often to check in. Sep 12, 2024 · Learn how to break up with someone kindly. We're here to help. If you need to break up with someone, choose a goodbye emotional break-up letter to your boyfriend or girlfriend from our list below. Learn how to set boundaries & move on with honesty, clarity, & compassion. Sending someone a breakup text is never easy, but there are a few ways you can let them down gently so you don’t hurt their feelings. Apr 6, 2025 · Here are 3 key points for how to break up with someone: Be direct and honest about your feelings and decision to end the relationship. It didn't work then, it's not going to work now either. Discover tips and strategies to make a tough decision easier for both of you. Make sure you sleep at least 7 hours every night. Of course you made some mistake, admitting them will make you look good and friendly towards them. It's typically a time to assess compatibility, communication, and potential romantic chemistry. Apr 11, 2025 · It’s an unfortunate part of life: friendships change, and sometimes they end. According to Psychologist Kenneth T. Plus, when it's time to break up with a friend you've outgrown. Her thoughts revolved entirely around him. Experts reveal how to set boundaries and protect everyone's feelings. If you’d prefer to end the friendship without confrontation, this is Jun 6, 2025 · When you break up with someone, sometimes you still want to hold on to that relationship, though it's necessary to change the nature of the relationship itself. This guide helps you navigate the emotions and ensure both parties leave the relationship well. Jul 9, 2020 · Breakups are hard, especially hard when you to still love your partner. It can be tough, which is why we’ve put together a helpful list of ways you can ditch insincere friends without Oct 15, 2025 · Learn how to break up with someone respectfully. Discover why letting go was the hardest—and most freeing—decision, and what happened after she sent that message. Dec 31, 2019 · Need to pull the plug on your relationship? Find out how to break up with someone in the nicest way possible with these strategies and tips. We are both into cooking so we swap recipes mostly. Opting for face-to-face communication leaves little room for misinterpretation and provides both parties with closure. They might make you sad, but they can also lead to personal growth. ” If you struggle with words and need guidance on how to break up with someone gracefully, scroll down to find help in composing an honest and clear breakup paragraph. “We should still be friends,” is a common refrain, and a wonderful idea—but only if you actually want to be friends with that person. Jun 10, 2019 · Therapists and relationship experts share their advice on how to break up with someone compassionately, including dos and don'ts, and tips on what to say. Jun 7, 2021 · In many ways, ending a friendship can feel just as sad or painful as breaking up — sometimes, it can be worse. Space is just that. Nov 29, 2018 · How to know when to end a relationship with someone you love. Expert tips to end a relationship with love and compassion. The less you talk and hang out When we break up with someone, we are totally focused on where we don’t align. Don’t beat around the bush or leave things open to interpretation. Acknowledge the good times you shared while firmly expressing that the relationship needs to end. But you're giving consideration to what makes you happy and what you need, and that's worth celebrating. It's a time filled with anticipation, excitement, and a wave of emotions as two people get to know each other. Nov 8, 2019 · A therapist and relationship expert’s advice for how to break up with someone you love, including how to make up your mind, how to prepare for a breakup, and how to move on afterward. Whatever the reason, breaking up can be tough. Are there specific reasons, like repeated arguments or feeling drained after spending time together? Maybe you’ve changed as people, and that’s okay. Jul 17, 2025 · Therapists share the biggest signs it’s time to end a friendship, whether it’s turned toxic, faded over time, or simply no longer a fit in your life. Dec 12, 2024 · Friendships can be full of ups and downs. Oct 1, 2024 · These quotes cover various reasons friendships end. Maybe you’re not happy with your partner, or maybe you just don’t want to be in a relationship right now. Oct 25, 2024 · Don't wait or keep going on dates if you know it's not working out. The steps we’ve explored aim to provide guidance, but the true essence of a compassionate breakup lies in the power of empathy. Here, learn some tips for breaking up while living together to ease the process. When you know it's time to end it, give your partner the respect of doing it kindly. Jan 29, 2025 · How do you politely break up over text? To break up politely over text, be clear but kind in your message. Learn how and why and make your breakup a little less awkward. But not everyone wants to. Feb 14, 2024 · When breaking up with someone you love, you may want to soften the blow by being vague about why. Break up guide for preserving dignity and enabling healing. Fortunately, you don’t have to put up with it. Breaking up with a positive tone is not always helpful. Jul 18, 2024 · Learn how to break up with someone the right way. Here are 10 signs of a toxic friend. Apr 13, 2024 · Discover the art of breaking up with someone who adores you without shattering their heart. People change, want different things, or simply don’t feel happy in the relationship anymore. But if they seem to be want to get completely over you, then you should also do the Ways to Get Over a Relationship After Break Up and move on. May 5, 2022 · Rejecting someone is never easy on either of you. Exercise, keep an eye on your food intake. Here’s how to break up with someone so it’s as kind and clean as possible. Some may be better and some may be worse, but it's probably never going to feel great. Many people who end up in toxic friendships have a tendency towards bad relationships. Jun 20, 2025 · To break up with someone nicely and still be friends after, you should never leave them hanging. Here's how to break up with your boyfriend, even when it's difficult. Remember, it’s okay to seek professional help if you’re struggling. This can make acceptance difficult. Whether it’s a friendship or a romantic relationship, every breakup is unique. You never know—the other person might feel the same way too! Sure, it can be awkward to have the break up conversation after only a few dates, but you'll be less emotionally invested. Here, two experts weigh in on signs you should break up with a friend and how to break up with a friend. Learn why friendships end and how to end a friendship fairly, no matter the reason for the breakup. Here's a guide about how to make ending a friendship easier and kinder, according to an expert. Aug 8, 2025 · Home » For You » Relationships How To Break Up With Someone Nicely: 12 Respectful Tips Ending a relationship can be hard, but there are some things you can do to part ways maturely and respectfully. Apr 4, 2025 · Finally, show appreciation for the positive times that you spent together. Oct 15, 2024 · RELATIONSHIPS How To Breakup With Someone You Love (Without Hurting Them) I learned to break up without breaking down “Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go, but learning to start over Apr 27, 2025 · If you’ve been on a few dates with someone and you just aren’t feeling it, you might be wondering how you can let them know. I get being friendly with people going through a tough time, but having friends you can’t tolerate? Don’t be friends with someone just to be nice. Do you feel happy and supported or more Sep 6, 2024 · Establishing boundaries, limiting contact, muting your ex on social media, and asking for support are some of the things you can do after a breakup. Having been on the receiving end of a devastating breakup where the other party tried to make every reasonable step during the breakup to do the right thing, I'd like to call some attention to the time before you break up with someone. See full list on upjourney. Nov 25, 2020 · Breaking up is hard to do — and harder still when you live with someone. Read this article for some helpful tips on how to do so without hurting them. Friendships naturally fade over time; if you’re not feeling it anymore, the respectful thing to do is say so. Mar 21, 2025 · Breaking up doesn’t have to destroy someone’s self-esteem or leave lasting emotional scars. Jul 29, 2025 · Meaningful break up messages for him and her Want to know how to break up with someone nicely over text? The best ones show that you are honest without being hurtful. Life is tiring enough. Oct 23, 2025 · So those are the ways to breakup but still be friends with your ex. Dec 17, 2023 · If you're looking for help when it comes to how to break up with someone without hurting them, look no further. Dec 20, 2021 · Some situations call for an IRL conversation, but in others, a polite and concise breakup text is the best way to go. Jan 14, 2025 · Here’s how to break up with someone the right way. Feb 11, 2025 · Relationship therapist Lisa Bahar and clinical psychologist Kristen Casey offer tips on how to break up with someone you love or live with. Jan 14, 2025 · Read advice from experts on how to break up with someone in a kind way. Here's our guide to breaking up with someone in the nicest way possible. Discover when to break up and leave a relationship when you still love someone. Breaking up over text, call, or social media should be a last But what if you want to stay friends with your ex instead of burning all the bridges and never talking to each other again? Is it possible to walk away from a situationship while still staying friends? Don’t miss: 30 Ways To Break Up With Someone Over Text Without Hurting Them How to End a Situationship and Stay Friends? 1. Unless you are in an interdimensional relationship, take the time Oct 26, 2025 · Ending a friendship can be like ending a romantic relationship. Dec 3, 2021 · Ending a relationship is never easy, but this is especially true when it comes to breaking up with someone you really care about. 3) Don't ask for a 'break' if you want to break up. Jul 4, 2025 · How can I break up with a friend nicely? If you’ve outgrown a friendship or need space due to repeated hurt, it’s possible to break up with care, clarity, and kindness. Oct 8, 2025 · No matter how you go about ending a relationship, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll both experience some difficult emotions. If you talk it out with your friend and still want space, but feel as though you may be able to mend things down the line, a break could be a good option. Oct 4, 2017 · Wondering how to break up with someone in a nice way? We give tips on exactly what to say, how and where to do it, and what to do after that can help. You wouldn’t want them to do that to you. Here are 15 expert tips for talking it out, moving out, and moving on. May 27, 2025 · Outgrowing a friendship can be hard, but ending it doesn’t have to be harsh. You could say something like, “I’ve really valued our friendship. All the love that’s still May 6, 2025 · For many people, one of the scariest things about breaking up with someone is being alone. To help you navigate the painful waters of losing a friend, we’ve created a guide to friend breakups, below. Jun 16, 2024 · Here’s how to break up with someone and not feel like the devil. Your first instinct is to delay. Also, think about how this friendship makes you feel. Aug 7, 2024 · Days after the breakup, she reached out to him, expressing a desire to reconcile. Most people who ask how to break up with someone politely or nicely are doing that because they’re good people who don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. Since you aren’t technically together, it can feel a little different than with someone you’ve been in a relationship with for a while. com Jul 4, 2025 · Ready to end things with your partner, but don’t know how? These 9 tips will help you break up with someone mindfully, kindly, and clearly. If you're in a toxic friendship, you'll want to take action. If you are thinking of simply avoiding him/her, this may not be the best way to break up with someone. Mutual breakups, when possible, support post-breakup recovery. The best breakup texts will show genuine kindness while doing something very difficult and hurtful. Here's how to do it as smoothly as possible. The longer you wait to talk with the person, the harder it will be to break things off. Break things off in a public place away from other friends and people you may know. Oct 16, 2019 · Sometimes, you might have to break up with someone you still love. This article is based on an Jan 23, 2024 · Knowing how to end a relationship in a respectful way takes care, thought and communication. Jul 8, 2025 · Do your best to be honest with your friend. No one sets out with the intention of making friendships to break free from them, but sometimes it’s better for you and your friends to part ways. Ghosting your boyfriend or anyone for that matter is a terrible thing to do. Feb 25, 2024 · There is no easy way out of a relationship. Consider a Break Sometimes friendships need a break, and just like a romantic relationship, this can either lead to a full breakup or a mending of the friendship. You shared love together and they deserve more. Oct 18, 2018 · Breakups are hard, especially when they happen between friends. Breaking up is hard, and it can be painful. You don't want to hurt them, but you definitely don't want to keep seeing them. 6. Here, you can pick the most appropriate breakup message to convey your feelings. Jan 31, 2023 · How to verbally tell someone you want to take a break from your friendship You can say, you know, “Hey _____, I’d love to have a conversation about a transition I see coming in our friendship. Your date is keen to see you again and texts to set up your next meeting. If you’re not sure where to start, these therapist-approved texts can help you break up with your old friend. Learn how to break up with someone you love, plus signs that it’s time to end the relationship and support in online therapy. zzl qzbj qqvcm glzo bpvs xablvb jmauq ukv ekoiagyy xfya zxanxv zuuo ohgp oysx vwy