How To Tell Someone You Are Not Interested? – 8 Humble Ways

While it may be difficult, it is important to be honest and not give false hopes.

Reviewed by Ronald Hoang, Relationship & Family Counselor

Ronald Hoang is a clinical counselor/psychotherapist based in Sydney, Australia, with close to a decade of experience. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Macquarie University and a postgraduate degree in counseling fro... more

Written by Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach Experience: 4 years

Sneha has a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, a professional Relationship Coach diploma, and over four years of experience in writing. She writes about relations... more

Edited by Madhumati Chowdhury, MA (English Literature) Experience: 7 years

Madhumati is an associate editor with seven years of professional experience. She has previously worked as an editor, proofreader, and a writer with various organizations, helping her navigate through... more

Fact-checked by Gracia Odile, MA Experience: 3 years

Gracia Odile is a teacher-turned-beauty and lifestyle writer with three years of professional experience. She has a bachelor's degree in English from St. Stephen's College, a master's in Anthropology ... more

• Mar 19, 2024

How To Tell Someone That You Are Not Interested In Them

Image: Shutterstock

You have been dating someone, and you did not find that magical connection you were looking for. Now comes the rejection. So, how to tell someone you are not interested? This is the trickiest phase of dating, and you need to handle it carefully. Remember, you are treading a fine line. But what many people do is just cut off communication. This ghosting can severely hurt their feelings and cause self-doubt.

A person who is being distant tends to feel insecure and question their self-worth. However, it does not mean that you should force yourself into a relationship you are not fine with, but there are just better ways to reject someone without hurting their feelings.

In this article, we will look at the best ways of communicating your lack of interest in seeing someone while being sensitive. So, keep scrolling to find them out.

In This Article

How To Tell Someone You Are Not Interested – 8 Respectful Ways

1. Decide How You Are Going To Do It

After going on a few (or several) dates, you may finally come to realize whether or not you want to continue dating someone. Even after going over to each other’s place, if you decide that you are not getting the right vibe, then naturally, it is time for you to tell them that you want to call it quits.

The first thing that you may want to do at this point is to stop leading them on with the hope of being with you. It is not a good idea to get someone completely hooked on you when you are preparing to let them go.

The main point is to get the message across to them. Depending on the person, you need to decide how to tell them that you are not interested in them. Would it be better to meet them and convey the message in person? Or, would it be better to have a conversation about it on a call or through a text?

Ending it over the phone may certainly seem more convenient since it will spare you the trouble of facing the other person. Yet, some people find it rude of you to end things on such an impersonal note. Going over to meet the person reduces the chances of any misunderstanding. It is also a respectful way of going about it. Yet, for many people, handling rejection is not an easy task. If you feel like the person may turn violent upon your rejection, it is best that you end things with them over the phone.

So, when you decide how to tell someone you are not interested in them, weigh your options as far as the medium of the conversation goes. It is a good idea to talk to your friends about this matter and discuss what may be the best way to tell your current date that you are not interested in them.

2. Be Honest And Keep The Conversation Short

Dragging out the conversation may make things difficult for you as well as for the person you are rejecting. So, once you have determined how you will get the message across to them, the next thing you need to try is to keep the conversation short.

Let us consider that you are ending things with them over a phone call. After saying hello, avoid beating around the bush and move straight to the topic of discussion. Unless you do that, you may find yourself chatting away for a while before actually getting to the point. This can also be kind of frustrating for the other person. After all, how would you like it if someone spoke nicely to you for a few minutes, only to drop the bomb of rejection the next second?

If you decide to meet in person and end things, the sooner you get to the point, the better it will be. When doing so, you may receive many counter-arguments from the other person trying to convince you that you are making a mistake. So, it is always in your best interest to close the conversation at the earliest without sending any mixed signals to the other person. However, ensure your words are not hurtful. Ronald Hoang, Relationship and Family Counselor, says, “It’s really a balancing act between authenticity and compassion. Being fully authentic risks hurting the other at the expense of being kind. Being fully compassionate risks dishonesty at the expense of not being true to oneself.”

Unfortunately, some people have the knack to sway you from your decision. So, if you are looking for a nice way to tell someone you are not interested in them, make the conversation a quick one without giving them the chance to make you doubt your decision.

3. Be Absolutely Clear About Your Disinterest

Leading someone on under the illusion that you are interested in them is the wrong thing to do. You may just be trying to be nice to them, but it is up to you to ensure that the other person does not interpret this as a romantic interest.

This is the reason why you need to eliminate the element of vagueness from your rejection. If you are not clear, you may give the other person a reason to think that you are still interested in them or that they still have a chance. This is not the time to pity someone because you are trying to tell them that you are over them.

The key here is to be absolutely clear that it’s over between you two. However, don’t be rude to someone to get the message across to them. As long as you both end up on the same page, speaking clearly is not a crime when you are trying to tell someone that you no longer want to date them.

Sometimes, your instinct to please someone may take over your better judgment and make you want to hide behind the curtain of vagueness. This is fine as far as giving compliments is concerned. However, this should not go as far as making them feel like you are interested when you are not. In fact, this is the time when you prioritize your self-interest and make sure you end the relationship.

Quick Tip

Offer a genuine compliment to validate their vulnerability and acknowledge that the situation may be hard on them. This will make them feel respected and valued even as they deal with the heartbreak.

4. Ask Them If You Can Hang Out As Friends

Sometimes, you may want to end things with someone after a few dates because you didn’t click with them romantically and you don’t see them as a potential life partner. Yet, you may like them as a person. Unfortunately, this can leave you feeling confused.

But, once you decide that a certain person is not right for you as a life partner, it makes no sense to continue seeking a relationship with them. One way you could get out of this situation is by asking them if they would still like to be your friend. Of course, they may not agree to it. But, at least, you will come out of the situation knowing that you tried!

On the plus side, extending a hand of friendship might cushion the effect of rejection. Under no circumstances should you try to force the friendship on them. This may make them think that you are in denial about liking them romantically but do not want to admit it!

However, if you know that the other person has issues with respecting boundaries, you may want to reconsider being their friend as they may just keep trying to change your mind about dating them.

5. Avoid Ghosting Them And Tell The Truth

It can be tempting to end things simply by vanishing from their life and avoiding the responsibility of ending things the right way. But, ghosting people can leave them with questions, confusion, and resentment. If someone did this to you, you would not appreciate it. Then, why do this to someone else?

Rejecting someone can be daunting, but once you do it, it can bring you a lot of mental peace in return. So, gear up and tell the truth to this person and give them a genuine reason why you do not want to go out with them anymore. Be honest about your feelings with the person you are seeing.

Remember to be gentle with your words. You do not have to be mean or inconsiderate when telling someone that you are not interested in them. There are various ways in which you can deal with this situation sensitively and kindly.

Pro Tip

If possible, share a life lesson where you understood the hard way to not stay and try to force feelings. This will let them know that you empathize with them and understand what they are going through.

6. Be Blunt And Get It Over With

Sometimes, it does not make sense to be nice when telling someone you are not interested in them. Some people will try to make you feel bad about what you are doing, while others will be hoping to build upon your nice words to change your decision in their favor. Then, there are some people who will refuse to take a ‘no’ and argue with you, and even go to the extent of abusing you with words, simply to make you feel bad or publicize the fact that you are ending things with them.

In this case, there is no need to look for nice ways to tell a guy you are not interested in him. State the facts and walk away from them without a care. You deserve enough respect to not suffer under such circumstances, so being blunt can be the best way out in such situations.

7. Make Up A Story

Use this method as an absolute last resort. This way of ending things is reserved for people who give you a hard time accepting your rejection or try to sway your decision. Here is how you can deal with such a situation.

Come up with an excuse about how you are not ready for a relationship or how you are in love with someone else. Make your story believable to the extent that it is practical and good enough to get you out of the situation. This way, you can turn your lack of chemistry with the person into a viable justification of fate. You are unlikely to be forced into doing anything beyond this as long as you come up with a good enough reason that is relatable and emotionally acceptable.

Do not try to add too many details to the story and keep it simple and straightforward. After all, you don’t owe this person any of your personal information.

8. Be Specific

When expressing your lack of interest in someone, it is helpful to provide some specific reasons without being overly critical. Vague statements might leave the other person confused or looking for answers. Choose your words carefully to convey your feelings in a clear yet gentle manner. For instance, you could mention that you value different things in a relationship or that you do not feel the spark you are looking for. Being specific allows the other person to better understand your perspective, facilitating a more constructive and respectful conversation. It also demonstrates that you have thought about your decision and are offering them a sincere explanation.

You are under no obligation to move forward with a date that did not work for you. Rejections are tricky but being straightforward is the cleanest way to avoid confusion and ugliness in a situation. We have come up with some of the nicest ways to tell someone you are not interested in them to help you out of it before things get out of hand.

Of course, you can’t help but dwell on the matter and might even feel bad. But being kind will help cushion the blow. You might meet several people who don’t show interest in you in your dating stage. The quicker you get to the point — nicely, of course — the better for you and them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you indirectly say no?

The indirect way of saying no is to postpone plans, show disinterest, or offer alternate options.

How do you say no on text in a nice way?

You can include a few polite or positive words as you explain your reasons over text.

How do you say no in a smart way?

Keep things brief, offer an alternative that works for you, or explain why things cannot work out and wish everyone the best.

Key Takeaways

Telling someone that you are not interested in them might be difficult.
But if you decide to end things, the sooner you get to the point, the better.
State the facts openly and choose to walk away if needed.

It is never easy to let someone down. But this video can give you some insights into how to help them move on. Watch now to understand the dos and don’ts of expressing disinterest with respect and kindness.

Was this article helpful?