How to Respond to Passive Aggression Directed at You

The power of passive aggression lies in its deniability -- "I didn't mean anything by it." The most effective counter is to name it calmly and directly: "It feels like there's something behind that comment. Can we talk about it openly?" This strips away the mask without escalating. You're not accusing -- you're inviting honesty. If they deny, that's their choice. But you've made it clear that indirect jabs won't land unnoticed.