How to Get Back at Your Ex: 23 Fun, Classy Ways to Get Revenge

Breakups can end in ugly ways, whether we like it or not. So if you’re wondering how to get back at your ex, use these proven ways to get revenge.

When someone hurts us, it’s natural to want to seek revenge. If you know how to get back at your ex, you’re basically giving them a taste of their own medicine. They’ve made us feel dreadful—why shouldn’t they suffer as much as we did?

Breakups will always be tough, but if your ex made your life a living hell and inflicted so much damage on your life, don’t you think they deserve to feel the same pain you did?

When we enter into a relationship, we make ourselves vulnerable to that person. We believe they can be trusted, and we open up to them both physically and emotionally. However, things don’t always work out the way we expect.  Even if we pour our blood and sweat into the relationship, they don’t always treat us the way we deserve.

If they lie, cheat, hurt, deceive, or abuse us in some way, we feel it so much greater. After all, the greater the love, the greater the pain.

[Read: 12 devious ways to be a crazy ex and get your revenge]

Why would you want to get back at your ex?

The thing is, if your ex cheated on you, lied to you, or betrayed you in some way, then it’s highly likely that you would want to know how to get revenge on your ex. Especially if they were the cause of the unbearable damage in your life all because they didn’t respect you as a person or didn’t treat you the way you deserve, then they deserve a taste of their own medicine.

If the relationship got so bad to the point that it became self-destructive and toxic to your wellbeing, it’s easy to feel a lot of anger and resentment in your heart.

Maybe, just maybe, the only way to feel better is if you get payback for what they did to you. Of course, it’s still much better to forgive and not hold a grudge. But if your ex was that bad and you want revenge, why not?

[Read: How to get revenge: Cold, calculated moves to hit back & get even]

How to get back at your ex – 23 plots to exact revenge

Maybe your ex cheated or gambled all your money away. Perhaps they just didn’t pay you enough attention or called you names and belittled you so you lost all your confidence. So, you did what’s right and you broke up with them. But now, somehow that doesn’t feel like enough.

What that person put you through, they shouldn’t be able to get away with it, right? No, that scumbag has gotta pay! If you simply can’t let things lie until you got back at your ex, here are the best ideas to start you off!

1. Get someone hotter, cleverer, and generally better

Do you really want to know how to get revenge on your ex? Get someone hotter, cleverer, and generally better. If you find someone so much hotter and better than them *and you show that off to everyone, including your ex*, then they’ll be regretting treating you like they did.

This move is such a classic *thank you, next* move that’ll show them what they really lost. [Read: Rebound relationship rules you need to follow for a slam dunk]

2. Go somewhere you know they’ll be and look fabulous

If you know you are going to be in the same place, make the extra effort to look super hot. Buy a new outfit, get a haircut, do whatever it takes to make them think ‘what have I done?’

Dress up and go all out with your physical appearance to show off that this is exactly what they lost *with you looking hotter than ever before!* [Read: What you need to do when you bump into your ex to look really cool]

3. Lose those pounds

If you got a bit, er, comfortable, in your relationship, now is the time to hit the gym hard and shift those pounds. You’ll feel so much better once those endorphins and happy hormones hit your body. Not to mention, you’ll be looking fit once you stay consistent in your gym routine!

If you bump into your ex, they wouldn’t be able to recognize you at first glance because of how stunning you look *all the more reason to hit the gym*. [Read: How to stand up for yourself – Get what you want and deserve]

4. Get with their mates

If they really screwed you over, there is no sweeter revenge than hooking up with their nearest and dearest. It sends them crazy with jealousy but since they don’t have a leg to stand on, they just have to sit there and take it!

You know what they say – if you want to know how to get back at your ex, get together with one of their best friends. That’s the real revenge. [Read: The 30 unspoken guy code rules all men need to know and follow]

5. Flirt with other people in front of them

Show them how little you care by getting your flirt on big time with other people. If you’re in a place or event around your ex, it’s your time to shine! Flirt with other people and attract them with your charm and gorgeous smile.

This will piss your ex off right away, because you’re doing so much better than them! It’s their loss anyway, right?

6. Be really nice to them

Your ex treated you like sh*t, so why do you have to be nice to them? Sometimes, you’ve just got to be the bigger person. Being really nice to them is a great way to show you couldn’t care less.

It leaves them feeling really confused too! We’re sure they led to all kinds of confusing feelings throughout your relationship, so it’s only fair they feel the same way. [Read: Have you ever wondered how to use reverse psychology correctly?]

7. Return everything they ever got you—smashed up

Having a good clear out of all their stuff will be super cathartic, and make sure they know you don’t want to keep any of it as it’s meaningless to you now. But don’t let them use it either! Smash that stuff up and dump it on their doorstep so they have to clear it up.

This will frustrate the living hell out of them, especially if it is of sentimental value. Smash it, cut it up, break it, do everything you want to with their belongings. *they deserve it!*

8. Delete all their pics from your social media

Let them know you mean business and want to start over by deleting any trace of them from your social media accounts. Before they get a chance to do it first, make sure you clean all your photos and delete them *as if your relationship never existed*.

When they see this, they’ll be both confused and pissed, especially when they think this isn’t normal behavior for you.  [Read: Deleting pictures of your ex – The best psychological reasons to do it]

9. Unfollow them on social media

As above, showing them you simply aren’t interested in what they are up to is a great way to settle the score. Unfollow them, unfriend them, or even block them if you want.

Just make it obvious that you don’t care about their existence. Disregarding their existence is how to get back at your ex.

10. Tell their mom

If they did something particularly bad, you know who they won’t want finding out? Their mom! Telling the parents is a devious move, but it certainly makes them think twice before doing it again!

Especially if they cheated on you or did something terrible to you, then tell their mom. This way, they won’t repeat the same mistake in their future relationships. 

11. Tell everyone!

Public shaming might be just the ticket if you’re looking for them to feel seriously remorseful for their actions. This isn’t for everyone but if you feel like the only way to get revenge on your ex is public humiliation, then, by all means, do it! This might be the solution you’re looking for to end their bad behavior, once and for all.

12. Steal their friends

Their friends are everything to them so by stealing their friends, you’re already getting back at your ex. If they really were that terrible and you’ve been together for a long time, you might end up getting them on your side. If possible, make sure they know about it, that feels even better!

If you want to know how to get back at your ex, and have a giggle and get them seriously confused/annoyed at the same time, write stupid, sarcastic rubbish on all of their social media posts or clog up their feed with weird pictures!

They might block you because they find you annoying, but that’s how you know you’re doing something right in getting back at them!

14. If you shared Netflix passwords, change them

Don’t let them freeload off you for one second longer! If you’re used to sharing any accounts with them like Netflix or Spotify, change your password! Don’t let them keep using you, even after the breakup.

15. Never ever hook up with them again

Don’t ever have breakup sex with them! If it already happened once, then don’t repeat the same mistake. Whatever you do, however tempting it is, and regardless of how much alcohol you drink, never, ever hook up with them again.

Even if they beg for forgiveness and ask you to take them back, be stronger. You won’t benefit from sleeping with them again. In fact, you’ll give them the satisfaction of giving them a part of you without the commitment. [Read: 10 things to do when your ex wants you back]

16. Become successful

Get that promotion, change career paths, write that book. Do all the things you said you were going to do when they held you back, and kick ass at every single one of them! Success will always be the best revenge, so this is how to get back at your ex in a way that’ll make them envy you.

They’ll end up thinking, “I should’ve never broken up with them,” once they see how successful you are after the relationship ends. [Read: All the quotes you need while going through a breakup]

17. Imitate pictures they post of themselves on social media

Make fun of their arrogant selfies or stupid posts by mocking them. People will think you are hilarious too *well, everyone except your ex, that is!* What better way to embarrass your ex than by mocking their selfies and basically every social media post they have, right?

18. Ask for all your stuff back, then throw it away in front of them

Make them hunt for all the stuff you left at their place, and get them to return it. It will be funny watching their face when you just say ‘thanks’ and then chuck it straight in the bin! [Read: 10 stages of a breakup and how to get through them]

19. Stay tight with their family

If you want to trigger a reaction out of your ex, then remain close with their family. Nothing’s more annoying than when your family is still close with your ex, right? The same should apply to them!

Used to call his mum every week? Keep doing it! Used to play golf with her dad on a regular basis? Refuse to give that up. Staying close to their family will infuriate them and make them feel on edge all the time too! [Read: How to not get attached to someone who will never be good for you]

20. Go traveling

Get out there and see the world! Make sure you document pictures of yourself having an amazing time in all these exotic locations. Nothing says, ‘I couldn’t care less about you’ better than looking hot on a beach somewhere beautiful.

With every beach photo on Instagram, it’s as if you’re saying, ‘this is what you lost.’ [Read: How to get revenge – Cold, calculated moves to get even]

21. Don’t just show happiness, be genuinely happy

Next to success, happiness is the next best revenge on how to get back at your ex. When you’re happy *and your ex sees this*, they’ll be overthinking what makes you so happy when a breakup is supposed to make you miserable. It’ll eventually lead to the realization that you were only unhappy with them, and that’s the real revenge.

22. Move on for good

If there’s something that’s a complete slap in the face for your ex, it’s when you stop caring entirely. No, you’re not just pretending not to care, but you really don’t give a sh*t about what they do, or their entire existence.

They become so irrelevant to your life and once your ex realizes this, it’ll give them the impression that it’s you who “won the breakup.” [Read: How to move on and deal with a break up with a smile]

23. Get in a long-term relationship

It takes significant time to get this right, as you should only date when you’re ready. But it’ll frustrate your ex when you land a real relationship that’s better than you ever had with them.

The minute you get it right in your dating life, and you land someone who genuinely cares about you, supports your needs and wants, and is the exact opposite of your ex – that’s the real upgrade. It doesn’t get any better than this when it comes to figuring out how to get revenge on your ex.

[Read: How to find love – The law of attraction]

So, how do you get revenge for your ex?

You can always use these tips in getting payback for how bad your ex treated you. But the real revenge is when they see that you’re so happy and successful in a way you never were with them. It’ll just go to show that they weren’t worth your energy, time, and heart in the first place.

Remember, getting revenge on your ex can be hugely cathartic and even fun. It can help you go forward with your life and get over it. Still, it’s important to keep a check on yourself. Don’t ever go seeking revenge at the cost of your own happiness or sanity. After all, revenge is all fun and games until something terrible happens.

While these ways are incredibly helpful on how to get back at your ex, at some point, you have to realize they’re just not worth your time. Your ex treated you like crap, but now it’s time to move on and find someone better!