It probably will sound mean no matter how you tell them.

Ghost them... It's all the rage here!

Hmmm ...
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free

😂

I don’t think there is a way to not hurt their feelings or offend them. Maybe try silence.

You'll just have to get to the point and tell them the relationship/friendship isn't working out for you, 😒that as time has passed you've outgrown them. You can add you're sorry and don't mean to be hurtful but it's time to go your own way now. 👋🏼

Advise from an old friend of mine would be to tell them you slept with their sibling... and they'll never bother you again! (Joking).

But it's mean and their is no way around it, you either just got to say it or just leave them hanging...

I prefer to be told, though it hurts more in the moment, I'm not wondering why they're not talking with me anymore.

Nothing about that isnt mean so get it over with.

On here, just go silent. Remove as a friend. Or block...
In real life the silence or walk away. When they say you're acting strange tell them I'm just being honest and true to myself.