passive aggressor
Subtle hostility practitioner
A passive aggressor is someone who expresses hostility indirectly rather than openly—through silence, procrastination, backhanded compliments, or deliberate inefficiency.
Where an aggressor confronts directly, a passive aggressor undermines while maintaining deniability: He's such a passive aggressor—always "forgetting" to do things he doesn't want to do.
Inducing remorse deliberately
- gaslightingManipulation causing self-doubt
- stonewallingDeliberately refusing to respond
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- blame-shiftingAttributing fault to others
triangulation · emotional withdrawal · plausible deniability · mind games · mixed signals · martyrdom · sabotage · insinuation
Insults dressed as flattery
- snide remarksDisparaging comments, thinly veiled
- silent treatmentRefusing to speak
- cold shoulderIntentional dismissive treatment
- eye-rollingExpressive gesture of annoyance
snubbing · mockery · sarcasm · disdain · muttering · undermining · obstruction · feigned ignorance
Silent, resentful withdrawal
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- stewingCooking low and slow
- discontentUnhappiness with circumstances
festering · seething · long memory · score-settling · harboring
guilt-tripping
Inducing remorse deliberately
- gaslightingManipulation causing self-doubt
- stonewallingDeliberately refusing to respond
- deflectionChange in trajectory
blame-shifting · triangulation · emotional withdrawal · plausible deniability · mind games · mixed signals · martyrdom · sabotage · insinuation · baiting
backhanded compliments
Insults dressed as flattery
- snide remarksDisparaging comments, thinly veiled
- silent treatmentRefusing to speak
- cold shoulderIntentional dismissive treatment
eye-rolling · snubbing · mockery · sarcasm · disdain · muttering · undermining · obstruction · feigned ignorance · dismissiveness
sulking
Silent, resentful withdrawal
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- stewingCooking low and slow
discontent · festering · seething · long memory · score-settling · harboring
passive aggressorpeacemaker
Conflict resolution agent
hot-head · mediator · problem solver · loudmouth · brawler
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