Cheating in a marriage or a relationship can be a devastating experience that shatters our trust and confidence in our partners. Many of us overlook the warning signs of infidelity, and before we know it, our relationships are already in turmoil.

While it’s important to give your partner the benefit of the doubt, it’s also important to be aware of the red flags of a cheating spouse. Here are some of the most common warning signs:.

1) Increased secrecy

Secrecy is a red flag of infidelity. A partner who once shared their personal life with you may start keeping things from you.

They may become more protective of their phone or computer, and you may find it difficult to access their social media accounts or emails.

2) Change in routines

A cheating spouse may start to change their routines without any real reason. This could include working longer hours, spending more time outside the home, or spending more time with friends without inviting you along.

This is usually done to create room for their illicit activities.

3) Less intimacy

A lack of physical intimacy, such as kissing and holding hands, may signal that your partner is getting it elsewhere.

It could also be that they’re experiencing emotional detachment or are stressed from work, but you should observe if they get defensive, blame you, or get annoyed when you initiate intimacy with them.

4) Unexplained expenses

If your partner starts racking up bills or expenses that you don’t know about, it could be that they’re hiding their infidelity.

Things like hotel stays, expensive dinners, or gifts for someone else may show up in their credit card statement or bank account.

5) Accusing you of cheating

It’s not uncommon for a cheater to start accusing their partner of being unfaithful without any real reason. This could be a way of deflecting attention from themselves.

If they start acting unusually suspicious, it could be an indicator that they are up to no good.

6) Distance

If your partner starts to withdraw and becomes emotionally absent, it could be because they are involved with someone else. They may no longer confide in you or seek your advice. You may feel like you’re living with a stranger.

7) Less Communication

Constant communication via texts or phone calls may be overwhelming for some, but sudden or drastic changes are a cause for concern.

A cheater may start distancing themselves or engage less in conversations as they want to avoid creating loopholes or slipping up.

8) Guilt-tripping

Cheaters may resort to guilt-tripping to avoid confrontation or any suspicion from their partner. They often do this by deflecting attention from themselves, gaslighting, or through lying.

Cheaters may use phrases like “I’m just working hard for us” to hide their infidelity.

9) Defensiveness

If your partner becomes more defensive when questioned about their whereabouts or behavior, it may be a sign of infidelity. They may get annoyed or angry when you ask too many questions or when you confront them about their changing behaviors.

10) Changes in appearance

If your partner starts to groom themselves more than usual or buys new clothes, it could be a sign that they’re trying to impress someone else.

This could be an indicator that your partner is going out of their way to look more attractive to a third party than they used to for you.

11) Obvious lies or inconsistencies

Trust your gut when you find inconsistencies in your partner’s story over and over again.

Saying that they went somewhere when they were supposed to be somewhere else or telling a story that doesn’t make sense could be a sign that they’re cheating.

12) Lack of interest in fixing the relationship

If your partner seems indifferent to fixing the issues in your relationship, it may be a sign that they’re already mentally moving on.

They will be less interested in plans for the future, family activities, or making romantic gestures to keep things afloat.

Conclusion

It’s important to note that the warning signs discussed above may not necessarily mean that your partner is cheating on you.

However, if you notice many of these signs in conjunction, it may be time to have an honest conversation with your partner and seek professional help to rebuild the trust in your relationship.