Narcissists explode when challenged. Because of their false sense of superiority, they can't deal with hearing other opinions that differ from theirs, listening to different viewpoints, or hearing someone else's side of a story. A narcissist has an overblown ego that leads him or her to believe they know it all and are never wrong. They think that their beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they *think* things should be done, are the only “right” way.

If you dare to disagree or offer an alternative perspective, it’s seen as a direct attack on their worth. Instead of having a respectful discussion, they often resort to defensiveness, rage, or contempt. In their minds, disagreement equals disrespect. This is why conversations with narcissists frequently escalate into arguments or end with them storming out, sulking, or turning the blame back on you.

Listening to others, or hearing others out, is just an annoyance to them and an insult to their ego and sense of superiority. They don’t process feedback the way healthy people do — they see it as criticism, even when it’s constructive. The mere idea that someone else might have valuable insight threatens the fragile foundation of their inflated self-image.

This is just one reason why they become arrogant and are notorious for shutting conversations down (after they’ve voiced their opinions, of course). They will interrupt, talk over you, and twist your words until you give up trying to explain yourself. Once they’ve declared their stance, the discussion is over — not because the matter is resolved, but because they’ve decided their opinion is final.

On top of shutting you down, they often add insult to injury by bullying, dismissing, and belittling you. They might mock your intelligence, laugh at your ideas, or accuse you of being “too sensitive” or “overreacting.” Over time, this trains you to stay silent, just to avoid the emotional backlash.

The truth is, challenging a narcissist isn’t about proving who’s right — it’s about defending your right to have a voice. And the sooner you recognize their patterns, the sooner you can stop wasting energy trying to win a conversation they never intended to have in good faith.