10 Witty Responses to Rude Comments That Can Make an Impression

Fareeha Sheikh
ILLUMINATION
Published in
4 min readDec 21, 2022

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Photo by Dmitriy Zub:

Most of us have been subjected to crude comments, subliminal compliments, unpleasant jokes, and even outright insults. These circumstances make us uneasy and make us unsure about the appropriate course of action. The good news is that there are numerous acceptable ways to defend yourself without coming across as forceful or unpleasant, and without allowing other people’s statements to irritate you.

We created a guide to help you cope with careless remarks and set clear limits with others in a tactful yet assertive manner.

1. Answer with a question.

One of the oldest methods for changing the subject is to respond to a question with another inquiry. The unpleasant person will also be reminded that they are the ones with problems to fix and that their aggression is simply a reflection of their anxieties if you seem worried about their behavior.

2. Say, “Thank you.”

Although it may seem counterproductive to respond to a disrespectful remark with a simple “thank you,” doing so is one of the best ways to terminate the conversation. You can appreciate their sincerity without letting their critical remarks get to you by saying “thank you.”

3. Acknowledge the concern.

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