How to Tell if Your Best Friend Is Secretly Jealous of You

21 October 2026

Here’s the honest truth first: everyone gets jealous sometimes, even of their best friend. Seeing your friend get the thing you wanted is hard. A little jealousy doesn’t make someone a bad friend. What matters is what they do with it.

Healthy jealousy sounds like “I’m so happy for you, and also kind of jealous, haha.” Unhealthy jealousy starts to leak out in other ways.

8 signs your best friend is jealous

  1. They play down your wins. “You got lucky.” “The test was easy anyway.” They can’t just say well done.
  2. They copy you. Your clothes, your hairstyle, your hobbies, sometimes your other friends.
  3. They always have to top your story. You went somewhere nice? They went somewhere better. You’re tired? They’re more tired.
  4. They’re weird about your other friends. They sulk when you hang out with someone else, or say mean things about people you like.
  5. Their compliments sting. “You look nice today, for once.” Half praise, half dig.
  6. They go quiet when good things happen to you. Fewer messages, shorter replies, a bit of distance right after your good news.
  7. They’re happy when things go wrong for you. Not openly, but you notice they seem a little too interested in your bad news.
  8. They point out your flaws in front of others. Little jokes about your marks, your looks or your family, especially when people are watching.

Why it happens

Jealousy usually says more about how someone feels about themselves than about you. Maybe they’re struggling at home, with school or with how they look, and your good news reminds them of it. That doesn’t make the mean comments okay, but it can help you not take every one of them personally.

What to do about it

  1. Don’t hide your good news to keep them happy. You shouldn’t have to shrink yourself for a friend.
  2. Talk to them, privately and calmly. Try: “I’ve noticed things feel a bit weird between us lately. Is everything okay?” This gives them a chance to be honest without feeling attacked.
  3. Cheer for them too. Sometimes jealousy fades when a friend feels noticed. Make a point of celebrating their wins.
  4. Set a line. If the digs keep coming, it’s okay to say “That wasn’t funny” and leave it there.
  5. Know when to step back. If nothing changes and you always feel worse after seeing them, it might be time to spend less time together. These 15 signs of a fake friend can help you decide.

See how well your best friend really knows you

Jealousy or not, a best friend should know you inside out. Make a Fake Friend Test, share it with them, and see where they land on the scoreboard. It’s a fun way to start a conversation, and you might be surprised by who knows you best.

create your quiz →

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