8 Signs a Guy Feels Rejected by You

Rejection hurts. It’s like salt on a wound, kicking someone when they’re down, or finding out you threw out a winning lottery ticket after you’ve taken out the trash… basically, it sucks. While you might have been rejected before, perhaps you’re suddenly finding yourself on the other end of the stick. If things have recently shifted between you and a guy you’re close to, you should look for these 8 signs a guy feels rejected by you. If you can find more than a few, he’s definitely feeling down in the dumps about you.

1. He starts putting you down.

When a guy likes you, he will go above and beyond to make sure you know he’s a nice guy. He will compliment you, joke with you, and perform sweet little gestures like getting your favorite coffee or letting you copy his math homework. If you suddenly notice a complete 180 and this man is now putting you down, he is probably feeling rejected. His jokes might become a little too sarcastic to the point of being mean or he could flat-out insult you. No matter how he puts you down, he is definitely feeling some kind of way. This sign becomes even truer if you find out that he has been talking badly about you behind your back!

Check out: Toxic Relationship Quiz

2. He avoids you.

Do you usually see him every morning or afternoon and lately he’s nowhere to be found? Does he usually sit by you at lunch and now he’s a no-show? Chances are, his ego was bruised by rejection and he feels silly and vulnerable so he’s avoiding you. He may be avoiding you because he doesn’t want you to see him like that or because seeing you makes him feel even worse. Either way, if he went from being super friendly to being Casper the ghost, something is off.

3. He gets aggressive.

Unfortunately, the male ego can be fragile. When some men receive the rejection, they don’t know how to properly cope. Instead, some turn to aggression and lash out. He might put his hands on you or on objects, such as punching a wall or breaking something in his hand. Sadly, some guys feel like they are owed the world, so when they get denied, their feelings turn into anger instead of sadness or vulnerability. Be careful with men like this! You dodged a bullet on this one. This is one of the strong signs a guy feels rejected by you.

4. He makes up stories about what happened.

Some guys can’t deal with rejection and have to create their own realities. Maybe you hear rumors that you are the bad guy in the situation, or this guy brags to his friends that you were head over heels for him and he was the one who had to let you down easy. Any ridiculous narrative he makes up just proves that was rejected for a good reason. No matter how light-hearted rumors can start, they can twist and turn ugly fast. Stand your ground and set the record straight. It is YOUR reputation on the line, no matter his hurt feelings.

5. He starts emphasizing how he doesn’t like you.

If before he was all lovey-dovey and wanted to be near you, but now you catch him saying things like, “I could never like you like that” or “she’s just like a little sister to me,” then this mans had it bad. Now, he’s flip-flopping to try to regain social control like he isn’t and was never into you. Nice try, big guy. We both know that’s a lie. Truth be told, this is him overcompensating for how he feels due to his own insecurities.

Check out: 10 Signs he doesn’t want a relationship with you

6. The vibe is just off.

This sign is a sneaky one because there’s not one obvious thing like aggression to pinpoint. Even so, ladies have the best gut instinct, so when girls think the vibe is off, it’s definitely off. Another clue is if you ask him if everything is okay and he responds “fine” but is still acting super weird. If he used to be friendly and then turned to this, the vibe is off and so is his honesty.

7. He overreacts when he sees you with someone else.

If he becomes jealous when you are around other guys, even if it’s just platonic, that is a sure sign he has feelings for you. This overreaction to seeing you with someone else speaks volumes. Even if you had no idea, you may have subconsciously friend-zoned him, rejecting his precious ego. This guy is feeling down and sadly, acting out and making himself look dumb. I know having a guy swoon over you and showing signs of jealousy might seem cool, but it is actually not a good look and should be left in the pages of a young adult romance book.

8. He’s suddenly interested in someone else.

Did that man just go from always being near you and complimenting you to suddenly being overly obsessed with every person that walks by? Sounds like he is overcompensating again – some guys don’t have that many tools in their toolbox. He is most likely trying to make you jealous or show you he isn’t interested in you anymore – even though he is – by dramatically pointing out his interest in everyone but you. Thank you, next!

Check out: 10 Signs it’s time to let someone go

Conclusion:

If this guy is showing more than a couple of these signs, it’s time to get reflective. Did you let him down easy recently? Or, maybe you friend-zoned him before even realizing he was into you! No matter what happened, you have every right to accept or reject any advances towards you, so stay confident in your decision. If he’s a good friend, he’ll come around. And, if not, you saved yourself from further drama. But do let me know how he’s acting right now. So there you have it 8 signs a guy feels rejected by you.