When you’re pretty sure your partner has been unfaithful but you want them to admit it on their own, you might have to be clever about it. Most people won’t just come out and confess to cheating, but if it’s important to you to get them to own up to it, here are some methods you should try.
1. Confront them calmly.
As tempting as it no doubt is to lose it on them, don’t go in yelling accusations. State your suspicions firmly, present what makes you feel this way, and then be quiet. The silence after is your weapon – it puts them on the spot to try and talk themselves out of the hole they dug. Don’t allow their betrayal to get you to explode on them or get nasty, even though you’d be totally justified in doing so.
2. Feign ignorance.
Play a bit dumb. Instead of anger, pretend you’re just confused. Ask for help deciphering “weird” things you’ve noticed – texts, behaviors, etc. Make it feel like they’re generously explaining themselves instead of being accused of cheating. It can trip them up, your feigned innocence might make them feel guilty enough to confess.
3. Try a bit of reverse psychology.
According to Betterhelp, reverse psychology can work on some people. Act totally chill, but drop comments that prove you’re paying attention. Subtle comments about them suddenly caring more about their appearance, changes in routine, etc. Let them know that their behavior isn’t lost on you — it’s been duly noticed and you’re onto them. Let them wonder how much you already know.
4. “Help me understand…”
Ask about inconsistencies calmly, framing it as needing their help to fill in the blanks due to your confusion. They have to provide explanations, which then opens up the contradictions. If they immediately get defensive and try to turn the tables on you, it’s clear they have something to hide.
5. Check their tech (ethically).
If privacy isn’t a usual boundary in your relationship, a well-timed “borrow” of their phone could turn up evidence. High-risk move, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Only do this if you feel it doesn’t break an unspoken trust between you. Breaking into their password-locked devices or hacking into their emails is not a good look regardless of the circumstances.
6. Try bluffing with confidence.
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Have no concrete proof? Act like you do. Be specific – times, dates, etc. Make them think you’re certain, even if you’re not. Liars crumble under confident questioning far more easily than vague accusations. If they truly seem not to know what you’re talking about, either they’re very good at lying or you may have gotten it wrong.
7. Target their weakness.
Do they hate confrontation? Are they a people-pleaser? Adjust your approach accordingly. For those who avoid conflict, make it clear the lie itself causes more turmoil than confessing would. They may get to a point where they’d rather own up to what they’ve done than deal with the awkwardness or discomfort of lying about it anymore.
8. Pick your timing wisely.
According to CNBC, a good move is to catch them off-guard – say, for instance, when they’re tired, rushed, or distracted. It makes it harder for them to come up with convincing lies on the spot. Plus, if emotions escalate, you have the “I know you’re stressed” excuse to back out later.
9. Throw out a question as bait.
Drop an innocent-sounding question you already know the answer to. If their response clashes with what you know to be true, it exposes their dishonesty and undermines their story. You can then question them on why the story has changed and what they’re hiding from you. The whole facade may start to crumble soon after.
10. Watch their friends.
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Shifts in how the friend group acts around you when your partner is present can signal they know something you don’t. Don’t confront the friends directly, but observe – loyalty to the cheater often cracks easily. While it sucks to realize that they’re more loyal to your partner than you, it’s good to have confirmation of your suspicions.
11. “It’s okay, I already know.”
A bold (and risky) move, but one worth trying if you’re 99% sure this happened. It implies you have solid proof that your partner cheated, even if you don’t. This either forces their hand, making them tell the truth to regain control, or it will escalate lies that eventually bury them.
12. Fake helpfulness.
“Let’s go through your messages to clear things up!” Suggest it cheerfully, making it seem like a favor to them. Most times, they’ll squirm and start deflecting. That deflection is an admission in and of itself. You don’t want to sit and read their inbox word for word, but if they don’t want you to see it at all, you probably know why that is…
13. Have an exit strategy.
Don’t beg for honesty, demand they come clean. Then, walk away. Say something like, “I love you, but not enough to let myself be fooled. When you’re ready for the real version of events, I’ll listen.” You take back the power.
