Signs Your Partner May Be Cheating On You

If your gut is telling you that your partner is being unfaithful, chances are your suspicions are right. The signs can be different with every relationship, but these subtle indicators can be clues that your significant other is cheating on you. These are just a few behaviors to look out for.

Sudden Focus On Appearance

Did your partner join a gym out of nowhere? Are they suddenly taking pride in how they look when they leave the house and spending a bit more time in the bathroom? If so, this could be a sign that they’re trying to look their best for someone else.

Dr. Robert Weiss of Psychology Today said, “If Mr. Sweatpants-Are-Just-Fine-at-a-Party starts wearing slacks with matching socks and a fashionable shirt, or Ms. I-Can’t-Help-It-If-I-Smell-Like-Our-Son’s-Poopy-Diapers suddenly smells like Chanel No. 5, that may indicate an affair.”

While buying new underwear can be innocent, these types of behaviors might be a red flag in your relationship. If the worn-out boxers are replaced or a tattered bra is switched out for a lacy number, chances are they’re not making these wardrobe changes for you.

The same goes for a different haircut. While some people randomly choose to spice up their looks, a freshly done hairdo is another possible sign that your partner is trying to look attractive for someone else. Another suspicious behavior is if they do extra grooming for social events, but wear the same tired clothes at home. They could be dressing up for their new lover. The bottom line is, a change in your partner’s appearance is a not-so-subtle sign that should probably give you pause.

Secretive Device Use

Another behavior to keep an eye out for is secretive device use. Many people are addicted to checking their phones these days, but a cheating partner will suddenly become extremely protective of their phone or laptop. One bad sign is if their devices never required a password before, and then they suddenly do.

Be watchful for where they take their phone as well. Do they take their phone into the bathroom with them, even if they’re going to take a shower? The chances are, they’re hiding something from you. They may even be behind the closed door to call or text someone else.

Is it impossible for you to get your hands on their phone? Do they protect it with their life? If you ask to see their phone and they refuse to let you have it, that’s not a good sign at all. You might notice your partner suddenly starts deleting texts or erasing their browser history every day.

The same goes for their computer or laptop. If they shut the screen or close a browser when you walk into the room, then they are probably up to no good. You can read a lot into your partner’s behavior when it comes to how they handle their communication devices.

Faded Emotional Intimacy

Every relationship needs emotional intimacy to thrive. Of course, the excitement sometimes fades after the honeymoon period has passed, but it’s crucial that partners stay emotionally connected.

This means that a couple trusts each other to share their deepest secrets and desires. A healthy couple shows vulnerability and a vested interest in their significant other’s emotions. So. it’s a huge red flag if your partner suddenly becomes emotionally distant.

Does it feel like they’re hiding their emotions from you? Have they lost interest and no longer ask how your day was? Does nothing you do seem to soften their behavior? If so, their focus may have shifted to someone else. You may feel distant from them even when you’re sitting in the same room.

If you’re no longer having an open exchange with your partner, that is a clear sign that they’ve moved on with someone else and are getting validation from outside of the relationship.

They may seem less vulnerable around you, going so far as to come across as aloof. They no longer tend to your well-being or ignore your attempts to connect. A cheating partner may even become hostile when you try to have emotional intimacy and push you away. Tuning in to your partner’s emotional health can be a telling indicator if they’re cheating or not.

They Are Suddenly Unreachable

A cheating partner often is hard to reach. They may let your call go to voicemail or ignore your texts altogether. It may seem like they always have an excuse for being unreachable, such as driving in traffic or being stuck in a meeting.

Is it a challenge for you to get a hold of your significant other while they’re on a business trip? Do you find that they don’t answer your texts when they’re working late? Both of these are bad signs that they’re sneaking around. If your partner’s schedule changes all of a sudden and it makes them unavailable, they could be lying to you.

They might unexpectedly have a work trip over the weekend or have to spend more time at the office when their job never required long hours before. If you often find yourself hanging up the phone in frustration when they don’t pick up, they could be spending time with another person.

They may start missing important dates or celebrations and always show up with an excuse. They had a flat tire, it wasn’t on their calendar or some other frivolous reason why they were absent and unreachable. Communication is important in a romantic relationship, and if your partner starts to blow you off, they are probably having an affair.

Friends Seem Awkward Around You

Unfortunately, when it comes to being cheated on, the betrayed partner is often left in the dark while friends may be in the know of the affair. It’s common that the cheating partner’s buddies know about the infidelity from the get-go and keep it secret from you.

If you go out to lunch with a pal and they act uncomfortable around you, they may know something that you don’t. Do you find that fewer people are reaching out to you? Does it feel impossible to find a listening ear to bounce your suspicions around with? If so, your friend could be pulling away because they know about your partner’s affair.

Sometimes, a close friend may catch a cheating partner in the act long before you make the discovery. A person who you were once close with may suddenly start avoiding you or if they do see you, it’s hard for them to make eye contact. Other people might handle the news in a different way and overcompensate because they feel guilty not telling you about the infidelity.

They could be overly nice or a bit too accommodating. Regardless, a change in behavior from friends and family could be a telling sign that your partner is seeing someone else and everyone knows about it but you.

Changes In The Bedroom

Physical intimacy is a key factor in any romantic relationship, so if you see some changes in the bedroom, it could be a sign that your partner is cheating on you. Both decreased and increased levels of intimacy can be an indicator of infidelity.

If your significant other is spending time with someone else, they will suddenly lose interest in being with you. They may turn down your advances or avoid being in intimate situations with you.

On the other hand, their desire may seem increased because they’re attempting to cover up the fact that they’ve strayed from you. So be on high alert if they seem more enthusiastic than normal or make advances when they normally wouldn’t.

They may have a new trick that they’ve never used before. While this could just mean that they’re trying to spice things up with you, it’s more likely that they picked it up from someone else. Other times, they may be perfecting their game and have been conducting a bit of research to try on the other person.

So, pay attention to the frequency of intimate times with your partner. Their behavior behind closed doors can tell you so much about what might be happening when you’re not around. Any changes you see could be a big clue that your partner is cheating.

Unexplained Expenses

Another unexpected place that can tell you all you need to know about a cheating partner is their bank account. If you suddenly notice less money in your bank account, they could be spending it on someone else. Perhaps your bank statements don’t seem to be matching up.

Having an affair can be expensive. Between lavish gifts to luxury hotel rooms, it takes some cash to have an affair, so you may see odd charges on your credit card account. They may drain investment accounts to pay for getaways and meals at expensive restaurants.

They might make frequent trips to the ATM to withdraw large amounts, or checks could be missing from their checkbook. If you see purchases to places the two of you don’t regularly visit, they might be going there with their new lover.

There may be receipts lying around with evidence they paid for a meal for two. They might empty their pockets before you do the laundry to get rid of any financial proof of their secret rendezvous. If you confront them about it, they may deny it or make up an excuse. In your gut, you know they’re lying to you. Either way, taking a hard look at your significant other’s finances can be a fast way to discover their infidelity.