From “Zombieing,” where a ghost from the past resurfaces, to “Affordating,” a budget-conscious approach, these terms give a glimpse of modern dating and relationships. Whether it’s the subtle act of “Breadcrumbing” or the extreme mirroring in “Eclipsing,” these dating lingos shed light on the complexities and challenges of navigating relationships in the digital age.
Check out the modern dating and relationship terms you should know in 2024.
1. Zombieing
Zombieing is a dating term that refers to someone who ghosted you and decides to come back to you without any explanation. They text you on social media or call you as if everything was right between you and them. It is depressing when you move on in your life and the person who ghosted you comes back. It shows that a person might have unresolved feelings.
2. Fizzling
Fizzling is an act of gradual decline in interaction and interest in a relationship. It is an emerging dating trend, in which both the people involved in dating are uncertain about their relationship after a short period and no longer feel emotionally connected.
3. Breadcrumbing
Breadcrumbing is the Gen-Z dating lingo that refers to being fed like breadcrumbs of emotional involvement and stringing the other person along without a genuine commitment. The intention is to enjoy the attention without investing in the relationship.
4. Wokefishing
Wokefishing is a kind of deception one person usually pretends to have a similar political opinion on a social cause with the attention of getting admired by the person they are attracted to. They may use social media posts to grab their attention.
5. Textlationship
Textlationship is used to describe a relationship that has good chemistry over texts and social media but rarely has in-person meet-ups. It usually happens when two people meet via dating apps and social media platforms.
6. Pocketing
Pocketing refers to the act of hiding the romantic relationship with family and friends. In other words, it can even mean when someone does not feel comfortable to introduce their partner to friends and family. It implies ‘they keep them in the pocket’ as a secret.
7. Sober dating
Sober dating is a growing dating trend that suggests mindful dating practices. It implies cultivating a healthier relationship without planning the meet-up over alcoholic drinks and opting for healthier lifestyle choices.
8. Orbiting
Orbiting refers to the act, where one person observes and keeps on stalking the social media profile, and posts of their Ex, even after the relationship has ended.
9. Affordating
Affordating is a type of dating practice that involves considering the financial equation before dating. It is a budget-friendly approach to dating where both partners do not want to splurge and opt for a very cost-effective way of dating.
10. Eclipsing
Eclipsing is a recent dating experience in which one person adopts to mirror the other person’s choices, likes, and dislikes in a relationship to such an extent that they start to mirror them, potentially leading to loss of individuality.
11. Roaching
Roaching is a dating term that refers to an act of maintaining other romantic relationships while being in a relationship and keeping it secret. It is a deceptive behaviour where one does not open up about their other romantic interests in front of their existing romantic partner.
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12. Benching
Benching is a trending dating behaviour that refers to one partner being involved in a relationship without giving any genuine commitment to the relationship thereby exploring other romantic interests. Being ‘benched’ means to be considered as the backup option in a relationship.
13. Cushioning
Cushioning is a recent romantic trend in which one partner tries to keep a backup option if their existing romantic relationship fails to work.
Groundhogging
14. Groundhogging is a dating phenomenon when one person repeatedly attracts the wrong partners in their life and feels stuck in the cycle of dissatisfying relationships.