Silence isn’t always weakness. Sometimes it’s the only reply that can’t be twisted.

Not every accusation needs an answer. When somebody is hunting for material, anything you say becomes something to quote, shorten, or repeat in a different tone. Saying nothing hands them nothing to work with, which is exactly why it frustrates people who were counting on a reaction. Quiet is not the same as agreeing.

Choose your moments, and if somebody genuinely wants to sort something out, talk to them. If they are performing for an audience, let the silence sit and answer later, in private, or never. Most of this runs out of fuel when nobody keeps feeding it.