The Top 12 Traits That Make a Person Unlikeable

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Let’s face it: nobody wants to be disliked. So, how can you make sure you get off on the right foot with all the people in your life? You've come to the right place–we’ll be walking you through some of the most unlikeable traits out there, so you know what to avoid in your future interactions. By knowing what not to do, you’ll be one step closer to making a good impression in your next conversation.

Common Unlikeable Traits

Some traits that are considered unlikeable include being overly negative or critical, talking only about yourself, and having low emotional intelligence. It can also be unlikeable to humblebrag, overshare, or name-drop to make yourself look better.

1

Humblebragging

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  1. Like the name suggests, humble-bragging involves hiding an achievement behind a complaint or a casual comment. At best, humblebrags come off as inauthentic and cringey; at worst, they appear rude and insensitive. You’re better off just sharing your achievement instead of beating around the bush. [1]
    • What Not to Say: “I went to the car dealership yesterday, but I had such a hard time picking between an Audi and a Porsche.”
    • What to Say: “I’m so excited–I put a downpayment on my new car yesterday!”
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2

Overly serious attitude

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  1. Just to be clear, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being on task and taking your work seriously, but try not to let that focus bleed into your day-to-day conversations. Don’t be afraid to crack a smile, say something funny, or laugh at someone else’s joke. The better you play with others, the more likable you’ll be! [2] Let’s say some compliments your outfit:
    • What Not to Say: “Did you not like my other outfits?”
    • What to Say: “Thanks so much! The ol’ jeans and cardigan were getting a little boring, so I wanted to change things up.”
3

Lack of engagement

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  1. Instead, always practice active listening during your chats, whether you’re talking with a friend, co-worker, acquaintance, or perfect stranger. Always ask thoughtful follow-up questions when the person is done talking, and take a moment to rehash exactly what they said. [3] [4]
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4

Low emotional intelligence

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  1. No one wants to spend time around a glorified child who’s always yelling at others, passing the buck, calling people names, and making impulsive decisions. Acting like an adult is a great way to be treated like an adult; plus, it’ll win you more points in the likeability category. Here are some other emotionally unintelligent behaviors to be on the lookout for: [7]
    • Keeping conversations self-centered
    • Bullying people
    • Lying to avoid the consequences
5

Name-dropping

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  1. It won’t bring you any street cred with your peers–it just looks like you’re banking on someone else’s status to give yourself more credibility. [8]
    • What Not to Say: “I went to the same college as Tom Brady.”
    • What to Say: “I went to the University of Michigan–it was pretty cold, but the football games were great. Go Wolverines!”
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6

Spreading rumors

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  1. Rude, hurtful gossip might boost your popularity in the short term, but it doesn’t get you any long-term credibility. Over time, people will view you as insecure, mean, immature, and definitely not likable. [9] Instead of spreading negative rumors, spread positivity among your friends, co-workers, and acquaintances. You might say:
    • “I heard that Sharon volunteers at the animal shelter every weekend. Isn’t that awesome?”
    • “I bumped into Matt at a blood drive, and he said it was his fourth time donating this year. What a great guy!”
    • “Katie worked an extra 2 hours to get everything ready for tomorrow. I wish I had her work ethic!”
7

Close-mindedness

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  1. Closed-mindedness can manifest in many different ways, from blatant intolerance to an unwillingness to see things from a different point of view. In any case, being close-minded definitely doesn’t endear you to other people. [10] [11] Try using these ideas to approach your day-to-day conversations and situations with a more open mind:
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8

Oversharing

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  1. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being vulnerable around friends and family–the real key is building a strong relationship first. Some people assume that sharing personal details about themselves can build this strong relationship, but this isn’t actually the case. Instead, oversharing makes your conversational partner confused, uncomfortable, and definitely not a huge fan of yours. [14]
    • What Not to Say: “Visited my doctor yesterday and got my sleeping pill prescription refilled. I’m definitely sleeping well tonight!”
    • What to Say: “Do you have any tips on how to relax and unwind after a long day of work?”
9

Lack of empathy

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  1. When you approach your conversations and relationships without empathy, you’re setting yourself for plenty of missed connections and friendships. Plus, no one wants to chat with someone who doesn’t make an effort to understand what the other person going through. Try sprinkling some extra empathy into your conversations with these tips: [15]
    • Making good eye contact
    • Mirroring the other person’s facial expressions
    • Labeling another person’s feelings and experiences
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10

Complaining

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  1. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with the occasional “I hate Mondays” or “The traffic was awful” kind of complaint. Still, you don’t want to be a glorified fountain of negativity, either. People don’t like spending time around Debbie Downers! [16] Check out these ideas that will help you embrace positivity rather than negativity:
    • Practicing gratitude
    • Offering compliments
    • Practicing mindful breathing
    • Trying compassion meditation
11

One-upping

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  1. In fact, one-upping is actually a huge turn-off that keeps the people around you at arm’s length. [17] Instead of inserting yourself into the conversation, take some time to compliment and appreciate the other person’s accomplishments.
    • What Not to Say: “That’s great that you got 1450 on your SAT. I just checked my results, and I actually got 1550!”
    • What to Say: “Congrats on your SAT score! All of that hard work and studying must have paid off.”
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12

Unreliability

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  1. Forgetting the occasional appointment or meeting isn’t the end of the world, but missing multiple obligations definitely won’t get you in a person’s good graces. [18] Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to stay organized and at the top of your game, like: [19]
    • Organizing commitments by priority level
    • Saying no when you have too much on your plate
    • Getting your daily checklist done consistently

Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I be likable and not annoying?
    Sirvart Mesrobian, PsyD
    Clinical Psychologist
    Dr. Sirvart Mesrobian is a Clinical Psychologist based in West Los Angeles and Glendale, California. With over nine years of professional and research experience, Dr. Mesrobian specializes in individual, family, and couples treatment for young adults and adults. Dr. Mesrobian provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, motivational interviewing, trauma-focused treatments, and other services. She earned a Master's in Psychology and a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from Alliant International University.
    Sirvart Mesrobian, PsyD
    Clinical Psychologist
    Expert Answer
    It's important to be open and accepting of others! Acting closed-off can make you seem judgmental, which prevents people from wanting to spend any time with you.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 12 Helpful 53
  • Question
    Why are friends rude sometimes?
    Kate Griffin
    Community Answer
    It is impossible to read the minds of other people. If a person is blatantly ignorant or hateful, that is one thing. But subtle social slights or confusing rudeness is frustrating, and ultimately the best thing to do is to not take it personally. Make a mental note of what happened, and if you notice a pattern, it might show what causes that person to be rude. It also could help you to realize they are not a good friend. In general, though, people being rude is sometimes unavoidable and usually not worth worrying about. Instead, try to be a kind, direct, and conscientious person, so that you can rest assured that your behavior is not rude or prompting particular rudeness in others.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 22
  • Question
    I talk A LOT. I can’t even remember most of the things I say. Most people say I’m just chatty, but what if it’s annoying? And how can I tell if I’m over sharing?
    cristofer harry
    Community Answer
    It's great that you are reflecting on your communication style and how it may impact those around you. If you feel like you talk a lot and have trouble remembering what you say, it may be helpful to take a step back and try to be more mindful of your words. One way to do this is to practice active listening, which involves paying attention to what others are saying and taking the time to understand their perspective. As for over-sharing, it's important to be aware of the context and audience of your conversations.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 26
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201803/why-people-hate-humblebragging
      2. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/emotionally-sensitive/2019/01/overly-serious-coping#2
      3. ↑ https://ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/active_listening
      4. ↑ Sirvart Mesrobian, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
      5. ↑ Sirvart Mesrobian, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
      6. ↑ Sirvart Mesrobian, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
      7. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/resolution-not-conflict/201603/can-you-spot-10-signs-childish-adult
      8. ↑ https://www.thecut.com/2017/02/name-dropping-is-an-awkward-networking-mistake.html
      9. ↑ https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/Patients-Families/Health-Library/HealthDocNew/Someone-Is-Spreading-Rumors-About-Me-What-Can-I-D
      1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/traversing-the-inner-terrain/201907/the-closed-mind
      2. ↑ Sirvart Mesrobian, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
      3. ↑ Sirvart Mesrobian, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
      4. ↑ https://www.npr.org/2021/04/28/991700784/youre-probably-not-as-open-minded-as-you-think-heres-how-to-practice
      5. ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2016/10/22/there-is-a-clear-line-between-oversharing-and-being-authentic-heres-how-to-avoid-crossing-it/?sh=6e154dd356e3
      6. ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/%E2%80%8Bitem/why_the_world_needs_an_empathy_revolution
      7. ↑ https://hbr.org/2018/05/the-next-time-you-want-to-complain-at-work-do-this-instead
      8. ↑ https://www.scienceofpeople.com/bad-habits/
      9. ↑ Sirvart Mesrobian, PsyD. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
      10. ↑ https://www.inc.com/lee-colan/8-ways-to-become-the-most-reliable-person-in-the-room.html

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