What is an instant red flag in a relationship? (2023)

What is the most common red flag at the beginning of a relationship that people ignore?

Lying or breaches of trust.

Infidelity is one of the biggest and most hurtful forms of betrayal. Being unfaithful or not honoring the relationship agreements about having other partners, is a big red flag.

Common examples of red flags include poor communication, not respecting boundaries, abusive behavior, and gaslighting.

Red flags in a relationship include excessive jealousy and frequent lying. You should also be wary of a partner who frequently criticizes you or puts you down. Another major red flag is an unwillingness to compromise — relationships shouldn't be one-sided.

Self-importance

Engaging in a whirlwind romance. Lacking compassion or a severe lack of empathy for others. Love bombing. An inability to maintain connections, such as with friends, colleagues and family members.

On social media, the Red Flag emoji 🚩 often represents the sense of the term red flag that's used in the context of dating and relationships to refer to a sign that a person will turn out to be (or is) a bad or problematic partner.

A signal of danger or a problem can be referred to as a red flag, a usage that originated in the 18th century.

What are the biggest red flags?

Using the silent treatment is an unproductive way of communicating within a relationship. It can sometimes be a form of self-protection, but at other times, it indicates emotional abuse. People who regularly use or experience the silent treatment should take steps to address it.

It can come as a surprise when your partner asks for space. While clingy tendencies may have been “ok” in your previous relationship, being overly needy is generally considered a toxic dating habit.

Caution: if someone is moving too fast, it's one of the clearest relationship red flags. This is an indication that they are either desperate or that they want to catch you before you discover some deep, dark secret.

A red flag refers to some warning signal that points to a potential threat, real or perceived—and which warrants further investigation. In investing, a red flag is a threat to a company's share price, which can appear on a company's financials, via headlines, or through social media.