Admitting you’re wrong isn’t always easy, and some people will go to great lengths to avoid it.
Instead of acknowledging a mistake, they’ll deflect, pass the blame, or double down, even when it’s obvious that they’re in the wrong. Some of these phrases are used out of habit, while others are more calculated ways to dodge accountability. If you’ve ever had a frustrating conversation with someone who refuses to back down, you’ve probably heard some of these before.
1. “Well, that’s just my opinion.”
When someone is backed into a corner, this becomes their escape route. It’s an easy way to shut down the conversation without actually engaging with the idea that their opinion might be based on misinformation or flawed logic. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not all opinions carry the same weight, especially when facts contradict them. Using this often means they don’t want to reconsider their stance, even when the evidence is clear.
2. “You’re taking this way too seriously.”
Instead of addressing the issue, this puts the focus back on the other person’s reaction. It implies that they’re overreacting and that whatever was said or done wasn’t a big deal. It’s a way of minimising the conversation entirely. Rather than admitting fault, the person using this phrase makes it seem like the real problem is how much the other person cares.
3. “I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree.”
There’s nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree when discussing personal preferences, but when facts are involved, this tends to be used as a last-ditch effort to avoid admitting they were wrong. It’s a way to walk away from a discussion without having to change their perspective, even when the evidence is against them. Instead of admitting they were misinformed, they’d rather make it seem like both viewpoints are equally valid.
4. “Let’s not make this a big deal.”
Some people dismiss their mistakes by downplaying them entirely. They use this one to avoid having to acknowledge the impact of what they said or did. It can be frustrating to hear, especially when the mistake in question genuinely mattered. The problem isn’t just that they won’t admit fault; it’s that they’re trying to make the other person feel unreasonable for even bringing it up.
5. “It’s not my fault you misunderstood.”
Instead of admitting they said something incorrect or misleading, they blame the other person for supposedly getting it wrong. This pushes the responsibility onto the listener rather than taking ownership of what was actually said. It’s a sneaky way to avoid admitting fault while making the other person doubt their own understanding of the situation.
6. “Why are you making such a big deal out of this?”
This is regularly used to shut down a conversation by making the other person feel like they’re blowing things out of proportion. Rather than addressing the issue, the person using it frames the discussion as unnecessary. It’s another way of pulling the focus off of themselves. Instead of owning up to a mistake, they make it seem like the real problem is how the other person is reacting.
7. “I don’t remember saying that.”
Whether intentional or not, this helps someone worm their way out of taking responsibility for their words. If they claim they don’t remember what they said, then they can’t be held responsible for it — at least, that’s what they hope will happen. While memory lapses happen to everyone, some people use this deliberately to avoid admitting they were wrong. It’s a convenient way to backpedal without actually addressing the mistake.
8. “You’re just trying to start an argument.”
When all else fails, some people will reframe the conversation as unnecessary conflict. This makes it seem like the other person is only bringing something up to cause drama. It’s an easy way to avoid taking responsibility because instead of acknowledging the mistake, they make it about the other person’s intentions.
9. “You always have to be right, don’t you?”
Ironically, this tends to be used by people who refuse to admit when they’re wrong. Instead of engaging in the conversation, they turn the discussion into a personal attack. By making it seem like the other person is obsessed with winning, they deflect from the fact that they are the one refusing to acknowledge reality. It’s incredibly immature and sneaky, that’s for sure.
10. “I was just joking.”
When someone gets called out for saying something offensive or incorrect, they sometimes backtrack by claiming it was all a joke. This lets them escape responsibility while making the other person feel like they took things too seriously. In reality, this is usually just a way to brush off criticism without actually admitting any wrongdoing.
11. “I’m not going to argue about this.”
Instead of engaging in a discussion, some people simply refuse to continue talking. While there are times when ending a conversation is the right move, this is regularly used to avoid admitting fault. Rather than acknowledging the possibility that they were wrong, they shut things down completely to keep their pride intact. Having a conversation isn’t an argument unless they turn it into one.
12. “You know what I meant.”
When someone is caught saying something incorrect, this lets them slide out of it without actually admitting they misspoke (at least in their own mids). It suggests that the real issue isn’t what they said, but how the other person interpreted it. In reality, if what they said was inaccurate, then what they “meant” probably wasn’t much better.
13. “I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
Sometimes, people genuinely need time to think before continuing a conversation. But in many cases, this is used as a way to avoid ever addressing the issue. If they never bring it up again, they never have to acknowledge that they were wrong. It’s a convenient way to escape accountability while making it seem like they just need space. While sometimes a bit of time and space is a good thing, especially if emotions are running high, if they’re using it as a “get out of jail” card on a regular basis, there’s a problem.
14. “That’s not what I meant.”
Rather than admitting that they made an incorrect statement, some people insist that their words were simply misinterpreted. This way, they flip the blame to how the other person understood their words, rather than addressing the fact that what they said was inaccurate. It’s an easy way to sidestep admitting fault while making the other person second-guess themselves.
15. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
At first glance, this sounds like an apology, but it’s actually a way to avoid taking responsibility. Instead of acknowledging what they did wrong, they focus on how the other person reacted. By changing the conversation into being about emotions rather than actions, they subtly remove responsibility from themselves.
16. “I don’t know why you’re making this about me.”
When people don’t want to take responsibility, they sometimes act as if the conversation is unfairly focused on them. Even when they were clearly in the wrong, they make it seem like the other person is being unreasonable for pointing it out. It’s a classic way to avoid accountability while turning the situation around.
