Here are 25 of the most common phrases used by covert narcissists, which seem harmless but often have a cunning subtext.

Covert narcissists share many of the characters of the overt narcissistic, but they are quieter and shyer. These narcissists may manipulate you with words that sound normal and tend to use creative phrases that send mixed messages, which seem harmless but often have a cunning subtext.

25 common phrases used by a covert narcissist

1. It is not a big deal
2. It is your fault
3. I was just joking
4. Don’t get upset over nothing
5. You are imagining things
6. Don’t be so sensitive
7. Why so defensive all the time
8. I didn’t say that
9. I will never lie to you again
10. I had no idea this would hurt you
11. You are the only one who doesn't understand me
12. You are crazy
13. You misunderstood me
14. Well, you may have deserved it
15. I didn't hurt you, you hurt yourself
16. If it’s not on my mind, I don't think about it, I don't care
17. Why can't we just forget the past?
18. You don't understand, I can't be alone
19. I have done nothing wrong
20. It is all in your head
21. What you are saying makes absolutely no sense
22. My friends hate you, but I always defend you and have your back
23. You're so insecure
24. I am like this because my parents were so mean to me
25. You are a bad person

What is narcissism?

Narcissist is the term used to describe a person with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) or commonly referred to as narcissism.

A narcissist has narcissistic traits, such as:

• Grandiose delusions (unusual high belief in self or give extreme self-importance)
• Arrogance
• Thoughtlessness
• Selfishness
• Low empathy, which makes their relationships difficult
• Constant need of attention and admiration from others

What is covert narcissism?

A covert narcissist is a person with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) and has all the narcissistic traits. Covert narcissism is the vulnerable type of narcissism, also referred to as closet narcissism or introverted narcissism.

These people are socially withdrawn, shy, and hypersensitive to criticism and consider themselves better than others. They do not tend to show grandiosity openly, but they are self-absorbed, do not care about others’ emotions, and tend to blame others for all the consequences.

The symptoms of a covert narcissist are often confused with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorders.

7 signs of covert narcissism

The 7 signs of covert narcissism include:

1. Even though they have a vast social circle and a great number of friends, they cannot sustain deep personal, romantic, or professional ties due to their self-absorbed nature.
2. They possess attention-seeking behavior and always ask for more from others without contributing anything toward the relationship. This makes others uncomfortable and difficult to maintain a relationship.
3. They tend to hurt others’ feelings or cause issues within a group, but they blame others for their intentions and actions.
4. They worry so much about themselves to a point that they do not care about others’ emotions and frequently rely on others to ease their own negative emotions.
5. They indulge in friendship or a relationship for their benefit and eliminate any relationship if it is no longer feeding their self-esteem and beneficial. They pursue someone who can provide the attention they seek.
6. If they do not get an ego boost, they tend to criticize others in such a manner that it causes severe emotions of disgrace.
7. Despite being introverted, they do not apply the same standards to themselves as they do to others.