In Love With A Prideful Man? 6 Helpful Tips!

What causes a prideful man?

Read more: 25 Signs Of a Prideful Man!

What is too much pride in a relationship?

A little pride is normal—but when it takes over, it creates tension, distance, and power struggles. A man with wounded pride or a fragile ego may need healing before he can fully show up in a relationship. Without that healing, he stays guarded and on edge, misreading your intentions or seeing your personal growth as a threat. Pride makes him feel like he has to control everything just to feel safe. Over time, this can lead to toxic behaviors that hurt both of you and slowly chip away at trust and connection.

6 Tips to Deal with Pride in a Relationship:

If you find that your husband or boyfriend is not humble there is help for you and him. But, He has to want help and growth too. Use these 6 tips to start the process of overcoming pride in your relationship:

#1 Identify and Address the Issue of Pride

Start by observing—not just what your partner says, but how he reacts in situations where pride seems to surface. Is he defensive when you offer feedback? Does he avoid admitting mistakes or get uncomfortable when he feels vulnerable? These behaviors often point to deeper insecurities or past wounds. Identifying the patterns can help you respond with more compassion instead of frustration.

When those moments come up, approach him gently. Share your feelings calmly, not as accusations but as invitations to connect. Let him know you’re for him, not against him. Speak with love, not pressure—this isn’t about fixing him but growing together. If it feels right, you might suggest counseling or outside support, but always in a way that honors his dignity and timing.

Suggestion for Conversations:

• Schedule Updates: Try monthly or bi-weekly check-ins where each of you shares one thing you’re doing well,  and one area you’d both like to grow in.
• Stay Curious: Ask open questions like, “I notice you do ___ when ___ happens. Do you know why?” This invites reflection without pressure.

#2 Earn His Trust

Gaining the trust of a prideful man is like trying to guide someone who’s blind — he can’t always see the path clearly, because pride clouds his vision. The only way out of that blindness is humility, which means letting go and learning to trust. That’s why real love requires vulnerability. You can’t overcome conflict unless both people lay everything on the table — releasing control, and the fear of being hurt.

As you lead with honesty, kindness, and humility, you encourage him to lower his walls and let you in, so you can support and help him. Here’s how you can do that:

• There’s No “I” in Teamwork In disagreements, focus on helping him understand how you feel—not on making him agree. Trust grows when you listen carefully and validate his feelings without trying to change his viewpoint. Show him you’re on his side.
• Think of His Self-Worth Prideful men often struggle with low self-worth. If you push your opinions without first understanding his perspective, he might feel like his truth doesn’t matter and you’re belittling him.
• Admit Emotional Limits Notice when either of you has reached your emotional limit. Long, tense talks or sharing too many feelings at once can backfire. It’s okay to pause, reflect, and pick a better day/time to continue the conversation—so no one feels unheard or dismissed. Sometimes, if you give into the need to rush the conversation it will cause even more chaos.
• Set Boundaries on Timing and Place Be mindful about where and when you bring up serious or tense topics. The bedroom is a key example where “relationship business” should be avoided because it can overshadow intimacy and create tension. But this applies to other spaces too—choosing the right moment and setting helps keep communication constructive and protects your connection.
• To Be Heard, Not Right When it’s time to share, remember you’re expressing your perspective—he doesn’t have to agree. The goal is to help him understand how his actions affect you, not to win the argument. Getting stuck in a right-or-wrong battle only feeds pride. Let go of the need to be right and aim for mutual understanding instead.

#3 Learn His Communication Style

Prideful men communicate—but often not in the way women want expect them to. Understanding his style is key to strengthening your connection.

Pay attention to subtle cues like body language, tone, or mood changes. When he seems off, try small gestures like cooking his favorite meal, offering a break, or simply asking, “I’ve noticed we’re not communicating well. How can I better support you?” These gestures show you’re present without pushing for immediate answers.

Be genuine. If your actions are motivated by getting what you want, he’ll sense it. Everything should come from a place of unconditional love and selflessness.

It’s not always easy, especially if he’s irritable or prideful. But giving your best effort matters. Encourage him more than you criticize, and acknowledge when he’s doing things right. Positive reinforcement encourages better communication and connection.

Recommended Read: He-Motions: Even Strong Men Struggle —a helpful guide on understanding men.

#4 Hold Him Accountable

One of the biggest things prideful men do is avoid accountability because it feels like admitting fault—and that can be painful. But, in order to heal… He has to make steps towards addressing his fears and insecurities. You can help your man navigate the process by gently letting him know that his pride is getting in the way, even suggesting therapy or counseling.

He might ignore your suggestion, get defensive, or even lash out in anger. But, please don’t keep repeating it and bringing it up at random times. Remember, there’s a difference between speaking your truth and nagging. Focusing too much on trying to change him can lead to control, which is prideful because it assumes you have the power to make someone change and only his desire’s and God’s love can do that. Once you’ve shared your heart, trust that God will send other reminders and encouragements for his growth. You’re just planting seeds; life will teach him the lessons he’s ready for when the time comes.

When addressing issues, focus on the main concern rather than listing everything he’s doing wrong. This journey isn’t easy for him either. Constant criticism can make him feel inadequate and push him further into pride.

If he refuses therapy, consider seeking counseling for yourself or try the first 20 minutes of empowerment coaching with me for free. Counseling can help you develop the skills to communicate effectively without pushing him away. With the right support, you can approach conversations from a place of understanding and collaboration, rather than frustration or blame.

Related Article: Empaths Attract Narcissists in Relationship: 3 Keys To End Cycle!

#5 Trust Your Reality

A prideful man may twist reality to protect himself from painful truths. He might manipulate facts, blame others, or use control tactics like gaslighting or blame-shifting. This can make you feel like submission and love mean giving in to his behaviors, and make you question your own reality if you point out anything in the relationship. These toxic behaviors aren’t necessarily about deceiving you but are his way of coping with insecurity and unworthiness.

Your job is to trust what you see and feel. For example, if he gets jealous because someone looked at you, recognize that it’s his ego reacting—not your behavior. Don’t question whether you were too friendly. His insecurity can drive him to blame others to avoid feeling like the “bad guy.” Stand firm in your perception and don’t internalize his distortions as your fault.

Therapy is crucial for helping you stay confident in your reality. Accepting his altered version of events enables him to avoid emotional growth and continue mistreating you.

For him to grow, it’s a painful journey — one I talk about in my book Healing After Toxic Love, especially in the chapter Can They Change? The path to healing and growth after toxic behaviors is often difficult and painful, requiring patience, self-reflection, and courage to face uncomfortable truths.

Therefore, confronting someone with pride may escalate their behavior as they try to maintain control. If you stand firm, they may manipulate or mistreat you. Remember, physical & emotional abuse are never acceptable. Early boundary tests may condition you to tolerate mistreatment. Consult a therapist to assess if the situation has escalated to abuse and if leaving is necessary.

Related Article: Toxic Relationship Quiz: Test If It’s Emotionally Abusive!

#6 Be Completely Humble

How do you fight pride? With humility. But be prepared, the prideful man will trigger your own pride, and you will have to overcome it when he provokes you.

He may make you feel what he is feeling inside. For example, he might ignore you for days because he’s angry. Will you ignore him back to prove your point? Or, if he blames you for everything to avoid guilt, will you retaliate and point out everything he’s done wrong to feel justified?

If you choose to stay, your job is to respond with truth and love. It’s okay to feel pain and anger, but never act out of revenge or anger. Don’t keep bringing up past mistakes with the goal of making him feel bad or forcing him to understand you. It will likely only escalate things. Remember, the goal is not who is right or wrong, but finding a solution.

A prideful man will be less likely to humble himself if you respond with pride. Seek therapy if needed, both for healing and for clarity on whether this relationship is within both of your capacity. Be sure to practice self-love so your emotional tank doesn’t run empty. You’ll need strength to continue loving him.

Also, extreme pride can lead to emotional and physical abuse. Humility doesn’t mean being a doormat. If you’re experiencing abuse and he refuses to grow, leaving may be necessary. Your safety and well-being should always come first. Here are 64 signs of abuse. Essentially, your safety and well-being should always be a priority.

Related Article: 10 Keys to Communicate without Arguing in Romantic Relationships

#7 Pray for Him

Pride is caused by trauma. On top of needing healing, He needs God to give him the strength to be more humble. God’s power is needed to remove His distrust, heal his low self-esteem, and renew his identity. In fact, only the power of Jesus Christ can break the cycle of pride. The prideful man needs God to heal his broken self-confidence and give him the strength to love himself. So don’t stop praying for him.

Related Article: Is Your Man’s Shame & Guilt Destroying Your Relationship?

Are you a prideful wife?

Be very careful not to pin all the blame on your significant other. If you can’t see anything you’re doing wrong or any areas for improvement, you may have a blind spot when it comes to your behaviors. Even thinking that you are more emotionally composed than someone else can indicate the presence of pride in your heart.

Thinking that they should do things your way and you have all the answers can become control, pride, and manipulation. Sometimes, your husband maybe frustrated with your flaws which trigger his flaws. It can be VERY complicated to really figure out the cause of the pride issues in your relationship. I highly suggest you get an expert involved and use these 38 signs to help you identify if you are struggling with pride as well! And don’t forget to try the first 20 minutes of empowerment coaching with me for FREE.

How to Deal with High Pride Husband

Your husband’s high pride often stems from insecurity, feelings of unworthiness, and fear. He may feel the need to show off, create a fake persona, be defensive, and avoid admitting mistakes. He hasn’t learned that it’s okay to just be himself and that the world doesn’t expect perfection or seek to make him look “inadequate.”

As his partner, it’s your role to hold him accountable for growth, while also providing a safe space for him to be vulnerable. When you win his trust, he may open his heart fully. But keep in mind, he must WANT to change and put in the effort himself—this is a matter of free will. You can love and pray for him better than anyone else, but he may still choose not to trust you or let down his guard.

Don’t let your own pride trick you into thinking you can “fix” him.

Remember, I’m here to help you pray and navigate this journey. Try the first 20 minutes of empowerment coaching with me for FREE, and let’s seek God together to ensure you’re on the right path.