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How to end a friendship with someone.

Leo_Valdez

05/28/25 5:59pm

Help!! I just had a big fight with a best friend since pre-k, and need to end the friendship. How do I do this?

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Expert Comments

wikiHow Editorial Team

05/28/25 6:00pm

Ending a friendship with a lifelong friend is hard, but it's sometimes necessary. It can be tempting to ghost or just let the friendship drift away, and in cases where you and your friend have simply outgrown each other, this may be an appropriate way to dissolve the friendship. But if they've done something to make you rethink the relationship, it may be best to tell them, respectfully but firmly, why you're stepping away. They may be surprised and hurt to hear you no longer want to be their friend, so try to be kind when you deliver the news, especially since they were your best friend for such a long time.

If the fight made you realize you're not compatible as friends, try saying something like, "I know we've been friends for a while, and you've been a big part of my life. But this fight has made me realize we're not on the same page. I think we're growing in different directions, and I'd like to prioritize other friendships now." Or, if they've done something to betray you, you may want to tell them this directly: "I just can't get past what you did, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to go back to being friends. I hope you can understand that."

We're sorry you're going through this. Unfortunately, we all outgrow friendships for various reasons, but ending them is how we make room for new ones. Good luck!

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