70 People Who Deserve Recognition For How They Execute Pettiness

What’s the most passive-aggressive thing you’ve ever done? Some people have no problem starting confrontations, happy to tell others what they think. But the rest of us aren’t so brave. That means that when we get mad, we become passive-aggressive.

And yeah, passive-aggressiveness often goes hand-in-hand with pettiness. When we get mad enough about something, we often take revenge in the pettiest way possible. Are we proud of it? Not particularly, but you have to admit that it’s understandable.

There’s just something so satisfying about getting back at someone with a subtle dig.

On the other hand, there are people who are so petty they’re in a league of their own. They take their passive-aggressiveness to new heights. Their pettiness makes our jaws drop. They might be over the top, but they’re also incredibly gutsy.

Some of them are being passive-aggressive to get back at someone for being rude. Others are trying to teach their friends a lesson. And some of them are petty just for the sake of being petty.

Is that the right way to live your life? That’s up to each of us to decide. Here are 70 people who belong in the passive-aggressive Hall of Fame.

1. No future for rude people

This post doesn’t go into specifics about how their behavior was rude, but we can only imagine. Maybe they were unpleasant to the wait staff or oblivious to other patrons in the shop. Either way, vengeance was served.

Twitter/@shenaoui Source: Twitter/@shenaoui

2. She came prepared

We don’t know what’s going on between these two people, but judging by those text printouts, it’s probably nothing good. Is it petty? Yes, but it also might be deserved.

Twitter/@3liAira Source: Twitter/@3liAira

3. Corporate pettiness

Not only is this hysterically petty, but it’s also unbelievably ambitious. Right from their start, they were trying to take on IBM as a better company. That earns my respect.

Twitter/@torahhorse Source: Twitter/@torahhorse

4. Oh, the humanity

If you know anyone British, just say the words “tea in the microwave” in front of them. The resulting rant will help you understand just how devastating the burn was.

Twitter/@AlishaRai Source: Twitter/@AlishaRai

5. This is dedication

Few things in the office world are ruder than stealing someone else’s snacks. When one coworker refused to mind his manners, others took matters into their own hands.

Twitter/@lufcdannyboy Source: Twitter/@lufcdannyboy

6. Clean beds are for nice people

Petty behavior like this makes a point — in the funniest way. He was mad and he wanted her to know it. His side of the bed looks great, though.

Reddit/bearfoxmousemushroom Source: Reddit/bearfoxmousemushroom

7. Throwback pettiness

Kids who were young in the early 2000s will understand what a subtle burn this is. We communicated a lot through our MySpace pages, often without ever saying a direct word.

Twitter/@JakeNbakeX Source: Twitter/@JakeNbakeX

8. He’ll be an excellent teacher

This is the coldest possible response anyone could have to an apology letter. It not only rejects the apology but also makes some digs at the spelling and grammar. Savage.

Twitter/@NickLutz12 Source: Twitter/@NickLutz12

9. She wasn’t feeling the vibe

It seems Aunt Barbara’s vibes are bad enough that she’s being excluded from the family Thanksgiving. Did Mom ever stop to consider maybe she was just having a bad day?

Twitter/@cal_gif Source: Twitter/@cal_gif

10. She’s a hero

Anyone who’s ever had a relationship fail because of cheating knows how devastating it is. This woman dealt with it triumphantly. I don’t think he’ll ever forget her now.

Twitter/@_Breyonnn Source: Twitter/@_Breyonnn

11. Geez, what’d they do?

We’ll never know what these ladies did to offend Mom, but it was bad enough she took action. But she liked the picture of herself enough to keep it. She just modified it a bit.

Twitter/@DancesWithTamis Source: Twitter/@DancesWithTamis

12. That’s an expensive grilled cheese

Dating is a roll of the dice in more ways than one. You’re taking a chance on whether you’ll be compatible or if you’ve wasted your time and money. This guy wasn’t okay with that.

Twitter/@ashhbradley Source: Twitter/@ashhbradley

13. At last, my time has come

Is there anything worse than someone who parks thoughtlessly in a crowded parking lot? Come on, guys, it’s not that hard to fit between those white lines. At least this passerby was ready to help.

Twitter/@adunkel2016 Source: Twitter/@adunkel2016

14. It’s helpful, sort of

Ethan doesn’t have time to help all his classmates who were too lazy to get up and go to class. Well, that’s not quite true. He’ll help them, just in the pettiest way possible.

Twitter/@joomarshalll Source: Twitter/@joomarshalll

15. That’s a bit extreme

I see what you did there. He didn’t slash their tires, he “Slashed” their tires. But I think the message was sent loud and clear. Did he just happen to be carrying those photos around with him?

Twitter/@herbehancock Source: Twitter/@herbehancock

16. It’s called karma

If your relationship is so controlling you can’t even ask another man for class notes, you might want to stop and evaluate. You might also want to ask a different classmate the next time you need help.

Twitter/@Fjr_45 Source: Twitter/@Fjr_45

17. Whoa

Is there anything more annoying than not being able to finish a season of a high-stakes show you’ve been binging? Consequently, is there anything more savagely petty than doing this?

Twitter/@heyqueenregina Source: Twitter/@heyqueenregina

18. This response is totally justified

We all know how frustrating it is to be left on read. Is it really that hard to take a few minutes to respond, especially when we’re having an important conversation? I’m adding this to my “Good Ideas” list.

Twitter/@coolgrandma98 Source: Twitter/@coolgrandma98

19. They were looking forward to it

It’s never cool when your coworkers eat your snacks, but this is a hilariously petty response. You monsters, don’t you know how sad they are about the mango?

Twitter/@Mnathero Source: Twitter/@Mnathero

20. Now THAT’S what you call talent

I’m incredibly impressed that this artist was able to whip up such a skilled painting in just a couple of hours. It’s especially meaningful since it was meant specifically for one person.

Twitter/@alicexz Source: Twitter/@alicexz

21. Guess it’s time for banana bread

This is an amazing passive-aggressive response to an argument. Of course, it means everyone in the house is going to suffer, but that’s the price of pettiness.

Twitter/@VictorPopeJr Source: Twitter/@VictorPopeJr

22. Roommates, man

This is such a bizarre response to being asked to do a routine household chore. Picking through the garbage took much longer than just taking the whole bag out.

Twitter/@LV_Eventing Source: Twitter/@LV_Eventing

23. When your ex is named Andy

You can’t tell me this person wasn’t thinking about this throughout the whole relationship. It was probably in the back of their mind, just in case, things ended poorly.

Twitter/@AndyyRogers Source: Twitter/@AndyyRogers

24. That’s some excellent photo editing

What’s a girl to do when she has a photo of herself she really likes but it also contains an ex-friend? She whips out some top-tier photo editing skills, of course.

Twitter/@CaballeroSerena Source: Twitter/@CaballeroSerena

25. He asked…you answered

Stereotypically, women are notorious for being indecisive about what and where they want to eat. This man came up with a creative solution for bringing his girlfriend what she asked for.

Twitter/@chopstckss Source: Twitter/@chopstckss

26. He’s looking out for his kid

One of the stresses of parenting is making sure your child eats enough. Sure, this dad is being petty, but he’s being petty in the name of love: protecting his son’s snacks.

Twitter/@_BeautifulHustl Source: Twitter/@_BeautifulHustl

27. That’s a couple of good burns in one

This burn is so good, it’ll make your jaw drop. But dang if it isn’t petty, too. This person is so annoyed by other drivers parking poorly they made printouts.

Twitter/@dazed_dez Source: Twitter/@dazed_dez

28. I want her to be my grandma

Elsie’s burn will live on in infamy. Clearly, she doesn’t care for the current president. When she heard there was an ongoing joke about the size of his hands, she decided to put her amazing knitting skills to use.

Twitter/@lilratbaby Source: Twitter/@lilratbaby

29. His response is amazing

I’m not sure what happened between these two, but here’s my theory: their relationship ended so badly he pretends she died. It’s the pettiest possible way to remind someone you hate them.

Twitter/@BullHunitProof Source: Twitter/@BullHunitProof

30. This was the only appropriate response

This is such a stupid thing to say to a significant other. Her response might’ve been petty, but it was warranted. The guy brought it on himself.

Twitter/@lynnlynnhiya Source: Twitter/@lynnlynnhiya

31. This is genius

It can be hard to share a Netflix account with your family, especially if they don’t use it correctly. Dear everyone: those separate users are there for a reason, not just because they’re cute.

Twitter/@mikeangiulo Source: Twitter/@mikeangiulo

32. This professor knows his stuff

It’s rare to have a professor who’s this up-to-date on what the young kids are doing. Not only does he know how to airdrop photos, but he also knows how to choose the perfect meme.

Imgur Source: Imgur

33. I wonder what she wants

Lynda is angling to get married to her long-term boyfriend, and her hints are anything but subtle. Now she’s posting on social media so all their friends know what she thinks about the situation.

Twitter/@chlosaphine Source: Twitter/@chlosaphine

34. There are no words

I get that some people concentrate better when there’s music playing, but this guy is taking things to a new level. Forget wanting to listen to music — he wants to stick it to the professor.

Twitter/@esaueracker Source: Twitter/@esaueracker

35. I don’t even know what to say

I have so many questions about this one. Why does she have a lot of unwelcome guests at her house? How many hot dogs does she eat? Why does she get so much pleasure from this?

Twitter/@AngelaBrisk Source: Twitter/@AngelaBrisk

36. Where did he get the coffin?

While this is a pretty funny response, it does raise some serious questions. Did he already have a coffin on hand, and if so, why? Or did he go out and drop thousands of dollars just to make a point?

Twitter/@ayy__mario Source: Twitter/@ayy__mario

37. Well, you’ve convinced me

Chelsea had to run to the bathroom, but she suspected her fellow cafe-goers of having their eyes on her laptop. This was her solution to scare anyone who dared to come close. Passive-aggressive, much?

Twitter/@chelsealockw00d Source: Twitter/@chelsealockw00d

38. Exemplified by Patrick Star

People can be amazingly petty on the road. They take it personally when other drivers are discourteous. They also take a lot of pleasure in getting back at them in small ways like this.

Tumblr/Friendly Neighbourhood Reblogger Source: Tumblr/Friendly Neighbourhood Reblogger

39. I trust Ed

When Ed gave them a bad review, this cafe decided to put him on the spot. Instead of responding or ignoring him, they called him out. I really hope he saw it.

Tumblr/The House of Unrecognized Talent Source: Tumblr/The House of Unrecognized Talent

40. Not such a friendly neighborhood

You’ve probably experienced how annoying it is to share an apartment building with other people. These neighbors decided to vent their frustration in the most passive-aggressive way possible.

Twitter/@aggravatedman Source: Twitter/@aggravatedman

41. Well, thanks

Was he annoyed that she wouldn’t share more or did he just want to be as annoying as possible? Either way, I think he’ll get to eat all the grapes now.

Twitter/@Jaaaaaymomma Source: Twitter/@Jaaaaaymomma

42. Neighborly love

These neighbors might’ve never spoken to one another in person, but they have no problem trading barbs subtly. Things might end up being awkward at the neighborhood barbecue.

Twitter/@Mededitor\ Source: Twitter/@Mededitor\

43. There’s a story here

I have a LOT of questions about this man and his life story. What did 7-Eleven do to him? Was it really bad enough to fuel his entire career path or is he just insanely petty?

Twitter/@sheikhimaan Source: Twitter/@sheikhimaan

44. This toddler has more game than any of us

If I were this toddler’s mom, I’d be torn between admiration and embarrassment. It’s amazing how kids are often braver than adults are — even if it’s in the most passive-aggressive way possible.

Twitter/@cydbeer Source: Twitter/@cydbeer

45. It even got a cake

This story happened in Nottinghamshire in the United Kingdom. Is it just me or is this the most British way of being petty? It’s passive-aggressive and nice at the same time.

Twitter/@THBer_ Source: Twitter/@THBer_

46. She’ll never know

…unless she’s familiar with American Sign Language, of course. I do hope this girl got a good grade on her final project. It’s amazing, secret signs and all.

Twitter/@LemAli23 Source: Twitter/@LemAli23

47. This one is kind of justified

Okay, to be fair, there’s an accepted social rule that you shouldn’t microwave fish in a shared workspace. It’s an unusually smelly lunch, and not in a good way.

Reddit/skilletblast33 Source: Reddit/skilletblast33

48. Sometimes, you don’t need words

If you’ve ever lived with a person who has long hair, you’ve probably experienced how it gets everywhere. They can’t help it, but they should at least clean up after themselves.

Reddit/Th3_H0urglass Source: Reddit/Th3_H0urglass

49. The amount of effort this took…

We’ll never know what this neighbor’s beef was, but it was enough for them to shovel only their side of the steps. It would’ve been just as simple to shovel the whole thing, but where’s the fun in that?

Tumblr/56blogsstillcrazy Source: Tumblr/56blogsstillcrazy

50. Stupid corporate

Some businesses, Sonic included, are known for their savage burns on their ad signs. But when their corporate office intervened, they lost no time complaining about them to the whole world.

Reddit/_NITRISS_ Source: Reddit/_NITRISS_

51. He counted

Sure, it’s petty, but it’s also the sign of someone who grew up in a house with siblings. He’s used to defending his food because it’s been stolen too many times.

Twitter/@TJay1k Source: Twitter/@TJay1k

52. Don’t give them the satisfaction

Have you ever disliked someone so much you didn’t want to laugh at their jokes? Someone needs to tell this lady she can laugh at a joke on the internet without giving any indication of it.

Twitter/@AyoolaAji Source: Twitter/@AyoolaAji

53. Oh, that’s low

Why do I feel like this was revenge on a roommate who refused to change the toilet paper roll one too many times? Either way, that walk of shame will be punishment for everyone involved.

Twitter/@DcStarlord Source: Twitter/@DcStarlord

54. She must really hate her

How much do you have to dislike someone to let them walk around with a booger in their nose? I mean, it’s kind of understandable, but it’s still pretty darn petty.

Twitter/@iblockperverts Source: Twitter/@iblockperverts

55. That’s disgusting

It’s pretty low to betray your friend by cheating with his girlfriend …but it’s also pretty disgusting to replace whiskey with pee. Every part of this is terrible. Just stop.

Twitter/@RoeGhost Source: Twitter/@RoeGhost

56. Geez, Barbara, don’t hold back

Barbara — who’s an elementary school teacher by the way — was so petty she actually did research to come up with this burn. That takes time, effort, and planning.

Twitter/@MoshWithTyler Source: Twitter/@MoshWithTyler

57. There can only be one

The entitlement of some people can only be matched by their pettiness. This lady was completely convinced that another woman had stolen her name. Then she insisted she could be the only Maureen Johnson.

Twitter/@maureenjohnson Source: Twitter/@maureenjohnson

58. It’s for research purposes

Ghosting is all about falling off the face of the earth and ending communication with as much avoidance as possible. This guy did the exact opposite and confronted everyone directly.

Twitter/@calamityjaz Source: Twitter/@calamityjaz

59. How the tables have turned

Remember when you were a kid and your parents hit you with the old “We have food at home”? This adult kid finally got his revenge, and it was sweet. And petty. But also, sweet.

Twitter/@PEEBZ_B Source: Twitter/@PEEBZ_B

60. Even celebrities suffer

This is a rude thing to do, and the poster didn’t even really give a reason. They just felt like sticking it to poor David Duchovny, who didn’t do anything to them.

Twitter/@sarahisdeep Source: Twitter/@sarahisdeep

61. Adding insult to injury

You’d think getting the phone taken away would be punishment enough, but this dad didn’t agree. Instead, he took it upon himself to make the whole situation worse.

Twitter/@bailee_xox Source: Twitter/@bailee_xox

62. Nicely done

You can’t force people to stop talking in real life, but in a group chat? Definitely. You just have to be gutsy enough to remove your mother from the conversation to avoid doing chores.

Twitter/@RyanH_11 Source: Twitter/@RyanH_11

63. I don’t think they’re interested

This might just be the harshest possible way to tell someone you’re not interested in talking to them. On top of that, they’re rubbing in the whole “I don’t have insomnia” thing.

Twitter/@313doe Source: Twitter/@313doe

64. That burn at the end

I’d pay a million dollars to hear this whole story as well as the follow-up of what happened next. Helen just couldn’t resist throwing that little dig in at the end, which was, of course, super petty.

Twitter/@noahforchange Source: Twitter/@noahforchange

65. What are you implying?

This dad is a master in the art of guilt-tripping. He’s not above using some pretty low means to get his son to call him. It’s petty but effective.

Twitter/@YoussefZidkido Source: Twitter/@YoussefZidkido

66. She went back and changed her captions

After her boyfriend cheated on her, this girl wasn’t going to remove their photos from Instagram. Instead, she went back and changed all her captions so the world would know what happened.

Postize Source: Postize

67. No one regrets getting back at the DMV

Was it petty for this Virginia man to spend this much time, effort, and money to make the DMV suffer? Yes, and we’re 100 percent on board. Everyone hates the DMV.

Me.Me Source: Me.Me

68. *snickers*

Public pools are places for everyone to enjoy, which means you have to be respectful of the people around you. This woman wasn’t, so she got to walk back to her car on hot concrete.

Reddit/whereyouatdesmondo Source: Reddit/whereyouatdesmondo

69. That shut them up

Many middle-aged women are horrifically rude to food servers. Of course, they’re nowhere near 65 years old, so it’s offensive to offer them a senior citizen discount.

Facebook/Petty Revenge Source: Facebook/Petty Revenge

70. Exceptional

This petty revenge took some serious planning. Amazingly, they managed to get the dog in on it, all through the power of a little fried chicken grease.

Reddit/shelldog Source: Reddit/shelldog

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