Relationship
Ghosting, situationship, polyamory and the other bond names a relationship status does not cover.
Relationship
Benching
Leaving someone on the bench: minimum contact while waiting for a better starter.
Relationship
Breadcrumbing
Keeping someone hooked with crumbs of attention — a like, a cold DM, an emoji on a story — with no intention of taking the next step.
Relationship
Compersion
Joy in the other’s romantic pleasure — the contrary taste of jealousy, when it shows up.
Relationship
Cushioning
Keeping spare suitors as a pillow in case the current bond fails.
Relationship
Ghosting
Cutting contact at once, without saying it is over: the other person keeps texting into a void.
Relationship
Haunting
After ghosting, the visit: stories watched, an old like, presence without speech.
Relationship
Love bombing
A flood of praise, gifts and “us” too soon — affection used to speed attachment and occupy judgement.
Relationship
Metamour
Your partner’s partner: the other love in the network, who is not yours.
Relationship
Nesting partner
The partner with whom one shares house, bills and logistics — the nest — in a non-monogamous arrangement.
Relationship
Open relationship
A couple (or main bond) that agrees sex outside, with rules — the “we” stays, sexual exclusivity does not.
Relationship
Orbiting
Leaving the conversation and still circling in the digital orbit: likes, views, stories, no speech.
Relationship
Polyamory
More than one love bond at once, with the people knowing — love, not only hidden extra sex.
Relationship
Situationship
A bond with couple routine and no couple name — jealousy, overnights, “we,” no sign.
Relationship
Slow fade
Disappearance on a ramp: colder replies, longer delays, until the thread dies without a slammed door.
Relationship
Talking stage
A phase of messages and dates with no couple name and no exclusivity deal — still the thread, not the house.
Relationship
Zombieing
Coming back from ghosting as if the death had not happened: a hi after the silence.