If You’re With A Good Man, He'll Say These 23 Compliments Often Just To See You Smile
Kampus | Pexels We've all heard the generic lines. "You're beautiful." "You're special." "You have a great smile." And instead of feeling cherished, it can feel like he's repeating something he's said a hundred times before. Women don't just want flattery; they want sincerity. They want to feel seen.
The compliments good men say to the women they love aren't rehearsed; they're specific. They show that they're paying attention, respectful, and have emotional awareness. Over the years, I've kept a mental list of the compliments that actually landed — the ones that stayed with me long after they were said. These are the words good men use when they genuinely care, not because they're trying to impress you, but because they mean it.
If you're with a good man, he'll say these 23 compliments often just to see you smile:
1. 'I am proud of you'
I am lucky enough to have some amazing men in my life, and I have heard this from them multiple times over the years. I remember every single time it was said to me. A good man doesn't just notice your accomplishments. He wants you to know that he sees how hard you worked to get there.
2. 'You look incredible — I love your hair like that'
I was sitting at a bar with a friend when a guy walked up simply to tell me he liked my hair. He was on his way out and didn't stay to chat or try to hit on us. He just wanted to make sure I knew. That's what makes a good man's compliment different. It's given freely with no expectation of anything in return.
3. 'I admire how deeply you care about people'
At work, I try to hide my emotions, and it's very difficult at times. Having a male coworker realize that there was actually a lot more to me than what I showed on the surface meant everything. Good men pay attention to who you are beyond the version of yourself you present to the world.
4. 'You're one of the most driven women I know.'
Does anyone not like hearing this?! When a good man compliments your ambition instead of just your appearance, it tells you that he respects the woman you're becoming, not just the one standing in front of him.
5. 'Being around you makes everything feel calmer'
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There are times when someone you care about is going through a hard time and there is nothing you can do but be there for them. That can feel like you're not really helping. So hearing a man tell you that your presence alone makes a difference is one of the most meaningful compliments you can receive.
A study found that a romantic partner's presence alone was enough to lower cortisol, the body's main stress hormone, in women during stressful situations. So when he tells you your energy is calming, he's not just being sweet. Your presence is doing something real for him.
6. 'I love how you always see the good in people'
Having someone recognize the small things about you, the things you think go unnoticed, is one of the best feelings. A good man pays attention to who you are at your core, not just how you look on the surface.
7. 'Your heart is one of your best qualities'
I tend to forgive people, sometimes too easily. While that might be a bad thing at times, I would rather be too forgiving and give people second chances than judge people way too quickly. A good man sees that quality and admires it instead of trying to take advantage of it.
8. 'Your story is powerful, and I’m honored you shared it with me'
My friend and coworker said this to me when I decided to make a film about my struggles with anorexia. Good men don't shy away from the hard stuff. They show up and remind you that your vulnerability matters.
9. 'You make me want to be a better man'
I have never been the person who wanted to change the guy I was dating. But knowing that being with me makes him want to be the best version of himself is pretty cool. That's what good men do. They don't just take from the relationship. They let you know you're making an impact on who they're becoming.
10. 'You handle so much with so much grace'
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When I felt like my life was falling apart, my boyfriend (now husband) asked me this. And it was exactly what I needed to hear. Even though there was nothing he could do, I needed to know that I wasn't alone. Good men don't always try to fix things. Sometimes they just show up and let you know they're there.
Feeling understood, validated, and cared for is one of the strongest predictors of relationship longevity and long-term happiness. A 20-year study even linked it to living longer, stating that a partner doesn't need to have the answer for everything; they just have to be willing to ask.
11. 'You're ridiculously talented — these cookies are unreal'
I'm a certified pastry chef, so having that validated by someone who means it is one of the best compliments a good man can give. He wasn't just being polite. He was paying attention to something I'm genuinely proud of.
12. 'No one makes coffee the way you do'
I take my coffee very seriously, and he knew that. A good man notices the little things you care about and makes sure you know he sees them.
13. 'You deserve to be taken care of, too'
My wisdom tooth was infected, I was high on codeine, and incredibly miserable. I didn't even know my left from my right. He didn't ask if I needed anything; he just showed up. Sometimes the best compliment a good man can give isn't words at all.
14. 'You bring out the happiest version of him'
One of my husband's closest friends said this to me when we were first dating. It wasn't just a nice thing to say. It told me something about the kind of man I was with, and the kind of men he surrounded himself with.
15. 'You are genuinely one of the best people I know'
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I don't necessarily agree, but hearing it from a man who loves you and genuinely believes it? That stays with you.
When a partner sees and affirms the best version of who you are, you actually start becoming more like that person, which psychologists refer to as the Michelangelo phenomenon. Your partner is shaping how you see yourself.
16. 'You're even kinder than I realized'
I apparently have what is known as an angry face. A guy I was getting to know told me I was much nicer than he expected me to be. It caught me off guard, but it was one of those compliments that stuck because it meant he had been paying attention to who I actually was, not just how I looked.
17. 'You're one of the kindest people I’ve ever met'
Someone asked me what time it was, and I stopped to answer while other people kept walking by. The guy I was with turned to me and simply said it. No big speech, no grand gesture. Just a quiet observation that reminded me kindness doesn't go unnoticed by good men.
18. 'You deserve every bit of happiness that comes your way'
A man who was close to me said this, and it honestly meant the world. Sometimes I forget that I, too, deserve happiness. A good man will remind you of that, not because you asked, but because he needs you to believe it.
19. 'You're incredibly thoughtful — I don't take that for granted'
When I allowed some flexibility in the schedule of someone I was managing at work while his wife was traveling, he said this to me. It was simple and sincere, and it reminded me that good men notice when a woman goes out of her way for someone else.
20. 'You're glowing lately'
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A man close to my family has told me this a few times in the past few weeks. I'm happier than I have been in a while, and it's nice to know that it shows. Good men don't just compliment how you look. They notice when something has changed in you, when joy is radiating from the inside out.
21. 'I miss you — things aren't the same without you'
There is just something about those three words. A good man doesn't say them out of obligation, but because he genuinely feels your absence.
Research has found that just thinking about a partner is enough to trigger emotional and behavioral responses tied to the relationship. When he says he misses you, he's saying that your absence is genuinely felt in his day.
22. 'I love that I get to call you just to hear your voice'
It's nice to know that someone was thinking about you. No agenda, no reason. He just wanted to hear your voice.
Wake Forest University communication researchers found that emotional support from a partner can calm the body's stress response. A phone call for no reason is one of the simplest and most powerful ways a good man says, "you matter to me."
23. 'I love you more than you probably realize'
I think that's enough said.
While there are many other compliments good men give, these were the ones that really stuck with me. Sometimes, we all need to be reminded that we are loved. And the best compliments don't come from a script. They come from a man who pays attention to the things that make you who you are.
So when someone says something that melts your heart just a little bit, hold on to it. That's what genuine love sounds like.
Gabriela Mischel is a writer who focuses on relationships, dating, and love.
