Witty Ways To Fire Back When Someone Is Lowkey Single-Shaming You

When you’re deep in the single life, the last thing you need is people reminding you about your solo relationship status.

Especially if those people are going out of their way to pass judgment or make comments that draw attention to your single status—in a negative way.

Why Do People Feel The Need To Comment On Your Relationship Status?

Friends group socializing in living room
Photo Credit: Daria Shevtsova / Pexels
Photo Credit: Daria Shevtsova / Pexels

The people who make condescending comments about your relationship status are usually doing it from a place of jealousy or ignorance.

Unfortunately, these judgmental people are out there in the wild and we want to help you prepare for how to deal with them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Friends, Family, And Coworkers Can All Be Guilty Of It

ADVERTISEMENT
Family sitting around table for a meal
Photo Credit: August de Richelieu / Pexels
Photo Credit: August de Richelieu / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

If you've ever been the victim of single-shaming, you may recognize questions along the lines of: "When are you going to settle down? How come you haven't found anyone yet? Are you even trying to date?"

ADVERTISEMENT

A lot of times they come from friends, family, or coworkers who don't fully understand how annoying those questions can be.

ADVERTISEMENT

First Of All, It's None Of Their Business

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Woman alone looking intense
Photo Credit: Darina Belonogova / Pexels
Photo Credit: Darina Belonogova / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

If someone is pressuring you about your love or sex life, first of all, it's important to remember that it's none of their business.

ADVERTISEMENT

If you don't feel like explaining yourself, you don't have to.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Ask Me About My Career Instead"

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Women walking and smiling
Photo Credit: Alexander Suhorucov / Pexels
Photo Credit: Alexander Suhorucov / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

A good way to redirect the conversation is to suggest something a little more interesting than your relationship status.

ADVERTISEMENT

Change the subject to suit your own interests and talk about things that bring you joy. For instance, you could blatantly say, "Ask me about my career instead." That way you can redirect their negative question.

ADVERTISEMENT

People Who Bring Up Your Relationship Status Can Make You Feel Insecure (But You Shouldn't)

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Woman standing against pink background making a cringe face
Photo Credit: Moose Photos / Pexels
Photo Credit: Moose Photos / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

Being single is a commitment to yourself in a way.

ADVERTISEMENT

Maybe you're already working through your insecurities about single life, and if someone is trying to shame you, it can bring those insecurities back up to the surface.

ADVERTISEMENT

Is This Person Worth Explaining Yourself To?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Man and woman sit in chairs talking
Photo Credit: Jopwell / Pexels
Photo Credit: Jopwell / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

Keep your cool and consider whether you feel like explaining your reasoning to them.

ADVERTISEMENT

You don't need to go into detail, but a simple "I don't need a partner to feel happy right now" should be enough to get them off your case.

ADVERTISEMENT

People In Happy Relationships Also Get Envious Over Single People's Freedom

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Girl looking at man on his phone
Photo Credit: Budgeron Bach / Pexels
Photo Credit: Budgeron Bach / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

The envy that single people feel toward happy couples works the other way as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

Happily committed couples often long for the single life again, which can cause them to make comments that project their envy onto single people who are thriving.

ADVERTISEMENT

Flip The Question And Ask Them If They Are Happy In Their Own Relationship

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Couple sitting back to back looking at phones
Photo Credit: Samson Katt / Pexels
Photo Credit: Samson Katt / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

If you think someone might be making you feel bad about your single status purely out of envy, the best way to address it is head-on.

ADVERTISEMENT

Flip the narrative and ask them whether they are happy in their own relationship, or if they miss being single.

ADVERTISEMENT

Answer A Crappy Question With An Even Worse Question

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
People talking to each other in group of three
Photo Credit: cottonbro / Pexels
Photo Credit: cottonbro / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

In certain situations, you have to answer an inappropriate question with an equally inappropriate response to make the person realize they may have asked something that was too intrusive.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's not exactly a conflict-free route, but those in glass houses shouldn't throw stone questions.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sometimes You Need To Be Sassy To Get Your Grandparents To Chill

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Women sitting on park bench
Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels
Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

Here's an example from real life. When my younger sister bought her first home with her boyfriend, my grandma asked me, "When the hell are you going to get it together and find a man to do that with?"

ADVERTISEMENT

At the time, I let it get under my skin. But instead, I should have responded, "When you stop smoking I'll find someone to settle down with." God knows I'd be single forever.

ADVERTISEMENT

Respond With A Comical, Sarcastic Answer

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
People laughing and talking on restaurant patio
Photo Credit: ELEVATE / Pexels
Photo Credit: ELEVATE / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

It's exhausting to have to answer the same questions over again to random people. Sometimes you can shut them down with a comical, sarcastic answer.

ADVERTISEMENT

When someone tells you you're running out of time to find someone to marry, try telling them you're a beautiful cake and a man is just a little bit of icing on top. Icing can be nice sometimes, but you're a whole freaking cake on your own.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Partner Won't Solve Your Problems Or Make Life Any More Worthy For You

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Woman using sewing machine wearing red dress
Photo Credit: cottonbro / Pexels
Photo Credit: cottonbro / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

Tell them your honest truth—which is that a partner won't make your life any more worthy right now.

ADVERTISEMENT

While it's great to have a partner to share things with sometimes, it's certainly not a solution to all of life's problems. Committing to a partner when you're not ready will just end in disaster.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Partner Won't Miraculously Fill All The Holes In Your Life

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Woman sitting alone on rock with valley view
Photo Credit: Yaroslav Shuraev / Pexels
Photo Credit: Yaroslav Shuraev / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

If you're not feeling fulfilled and happy in life when you're single, don't expect a partner to miraculously fill those holes.

ADVERTISEMENT

That's a lot to ask of a person, and also why there is nothing wrong with waiting until you're ready to date again.

ADVERTISEMENT

You Are Prioritizing Your Mental Health

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Woman jogging on park path alone
Photo Credit: Ketut Subiyanto / Pexels
Photo Credit: Ketut Subiyanto / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

The people who say things to shame you about your relationship status are definitely not considering your mental and emotional health.

ADVERTISEMENT

If someone is questioning you, it's a good time to tell them straight-up that you're prioritizing your mental health right now. Especially if your last relationship was kind of traumatic.

ADVERTISEMENT

Explain That They Crossed A Line

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
People talking on bench with coffees
Photo Credit: Sarah Chai / Pexels
Photo Credit: Sarah Chai / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

If you have the opportunity to explain to someone how annoying it can be to be asked questions about your relationship status (as if that's the only interesting thing about you), you should do it.

ADVERTISEMENT

Slowly educating our friends and family can maybe save a single person from shame in the future.

ADVERTISEMENT

You Don't Owe Anyone An Explanation

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Woman sits alone with a camera around her neck
Photo Credit: George Milton / Pexels
Photo Credit: George Milton / Pexels
ADVERTISEMENT

There are multiple ways to handle single-shaming; you could respond with anger, embarrassment, or humor and wit.

ADVERTISEMENT

You don't owe anyone an explanation for your decisions and it's possible they're just envious of your freedom! Always try to keep your cool and never let the haters get you down.