The 12 Worst Breakup Excuses Ever Given by Men

Reviewed By | By

Marriage.com Editorial Team

Expertise: Relationship & Marriage Advice

The Marriage.com Editorial Team is a group of experienced relationship writers, experts, and mental health professionals. We provide practical and research-backed advice on relationships. Our content is thoroughly reviewed by experts to ensure that we offer high-quality and reliable relationship advice.

Learn about Our Editorial Process

15.1k Reads

Updated: 9 Apr, 2025

Table of Contents

Choose honest communication to bridge distance, share your needs with kindness, and listen with empathy so both of you feel seen and connected.
Nurture shared growth by trying new things together and checking in on each other's feelings, so routine sparks curiosity rather than drift.
Commit to open, respectful conversations about future desires so trust deepens and you can build a lasting emotional connection.

If you have been on the dating scene long enough, you have heard one or two breakup excuses.

From the most honest “I just am not attracted to you anymore” to the worst—when a guy just disappears without even making an excuse (called “ghosting”), there are as many breakup excuses out there as there are couples breaking up.

Related Reading: 7 Ways How a Man Handles a Breakup

Here is a collection of the worst breakup excuses ever given by guys

1. The classic: It’s not you, it’s me

This is probably the most-used breakup excuse there is. Guys use this excuse so much because it helps them not feel guilty about breaking up with you. Even though it’s a bad excuse, it is actually spot-on.

When a man makes the decision to end a relationship, is it always about him, and never about you. Think about that and you won’t feel so bad.

2. We no longer want the same things

This is just a more polite way to say “I’m bored in this relationship.” A better way to approach boredom and routine when you are in a relationship that you have invested in?

Instead of just breakup up, why not try talking about ways you can spice things up and grow together?

3. I’m just not ready to be in a relationship

This is a veiled way of saying “I don’t want to be in a relationship with you

This is a veiled way of saying “I don’t want to be in a relationship with you.” Because you can be sure that when that guy does meet the woman of his dreams, he will be completely ready to be in a relationship. You weren’t that woman, but don’t be sad.

You are definitely the woman of someone else’s dreams, so keep on dating.

Related Reading: Major Men vs Women Break up Reactions

4. We’ve got different star signs. This will never work out

Do you really want someone who would dictate his love life according to his astrological sign? No, you don’t. You would be doing yourself a favor by nodding “yes” when he uses breakup excuses and finding yourself a partner who bases love on more earthbound ideals.

5. You deserve more than what I can give you

The excuse shows a lot about how the guy views himself. He probably recognizes that he is just throwing crumbs your way anyway. Listen to him – you do deserve more than him.

Now go out and find a man who treats you like the princess you are!

6. I’m not ready/I’m scared to commit to you

I’m not readyI’m scared to commit to you

When a man shows you who he really is, believe him.

This guy is telling you something that you should tune in to. He is commitment-phobic. Your love will never change this, and he will probably remain commitment-phobic in all his relationships.

Do not stay around trying to convince him that he should invest in your relationship. That would be a waste of your time, energy and your innate goodness.

You’ll find someone who is 100% open to what you have to offer, and when the time is right, he will commit to you without any second thoughts.

Related Reading: How Do Men Get Over a Breakup?

7. Breaking up by text or email

This is more common than you probably thought, 56% of breakups now happen via text message. It’s unbelievable, but yes, there are guys who just can’t break up with you in person.

It robs you of the chance to discuss or try to work out whatever is causing conflict in the relationship. But it also shows you the type of guy you were dating, so it is a blessing in disguise. Who wants to be in a relationship with a guy so cowardly he cannot even breakup with you in person? Not you!

According to Grady Shumway, LMHC:

While it may feel hurtful at the moment, it also gives you clarity and closure about their emotional maturity. You deserve someone who can handle difficult conversations with respect and care.

8. I need some breathing room in this relationship

In other words, he wants to see other women but cannot admit this to you. Let him go.

Do not even try and hang on to this guy—he’ll just take advantage of you and your faithful love, and eventually leave you for some other woman he was “breathing” with.

9. I like you too much, and this scares me

What kind of response is this guy expecting? “It’s ok. Just like me less so it isn’t so scary.”?

A normal man would be thrilled to feel such an outpouring of love for his partner. This is just another bad breakup excuse designed to make you feel good about the breakup but it actually leaves you scratching your head, wondering what is really being said.

Related Reading: How Does A Guy Behave After A Breakup

10. I don’t want to see you anymore. We want different things

I don’t want to see you anymore

This is not a half-bad excuse, but it doesn’t recognize that it is perfectly legitimate to want different things in a relationship. In fact, having separate interests is actually relationship-enhancing.

11. I’m going off to school/work in another state

Some guys think that they can’t manage a long-distance relationship so they end things before they even try. What they don’t realize is that there are some great techniques out there to make long-distance relationships work well.

You might want to research some of these and suggest them if your guy uses this excuse to break up with you. Of course, if he is reluctant to even be open to the long-distance relationship suggestion, you will know this is just a bad breakup excuse; he was actually just looking for a way out of the relationship and this upcoming move was the perfect opportunity.

Grady Shumway highlights that:

In that case, it’s better to know his true intentions now rather than invest in someone unwilling to try. A partner who values the relationship will at least be open to exploring ways to make it work.

12. I think I’m still not over my ex

While this excuse sounds reasonable, it is actually just an excuse to break up with you. A guy who is totally into you can still have some feelings for an ex but put these aside because he wants to learn what you are all about and be in your company. Again, this is an excuse that is well-intentioned; he doesn’t want you to be hurt, but it remains what it is – a breakup excuse.

Helpful?

Take Our Marriage Course

Continue exploring this topic

Hi, I'm your relationship guide. What's on your mind?

YOU COULD START WITH

Share this article on

Share this article on

Marriage.com Editorial Team Relationship & Marriage Advice

The Marriage.com Editorial Team is a group of experienced relationship writers, experts, and mental health professionals. We provide practical and research-backed advice on relationships. Our content is thoroughly reviewed by experts... Read more to ensure that we offer high-quality and reliable relationship advice. Read less