9 new dating terms everyone needs to know: what they mean and how to use them in a sentence

Breadcrumbing is when someone you'd like to have a relationship with leads you on just enough to keep you in their life without a solid commitment.

If a romantic interest gives you just enough time, attention, affection, or words of affirmation to keep you interested, but you still feel like you're at an arm's length from them, you could be a victim of breadcrumbing.

"They are giving you just enough to keep you thinking that they are interested, followed by periods of complete silence to push you away. When they feel they may be losing you, they start back up with attention again until they feel that you are re-engaged," Kimberly Panganiban, a licensed marriage and family therapist at Choosing Therapy, told Insider.

In a sentence: Sally hadn't heard from Kyle for weeks, but then he breadcrumbed her with a last-minute date.

A soft launch happens when someone drops a hint about their lover on social media without revealing their full identity, like with a photo of two plates on a restaurant table or the back of a lover's head.

In the age of social media, sharing a photo of your boo can be a big deal. That's why some people prefer a soft launch, where they show Instagram or TikTok followers they're romantically involved while making it unclear who their special someone is.

People who aren't officially using the labels boyfriend and girlfriend may opt for a soft launch, in case the relationship doesn't work out.

In a sentence: When I saw the mysterious silhouette Nora posted on Instagram, I figured she was soft launching her man.

Submarining is when a match suddenly stops communication, then reappears months later.

Similar to ghosting, submarining involves a sudden stop in communication, whether calls, texts, or FaceTimes.

Unlike a ghost, who ends all contact for good, a submariner will pop back in suddenly, usually with a text.

This can make victims of submarining feel confused, anxious, or hurt, Gigi Engle, a certified sex coach and author of "All the F*cking Mistakes: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life," told Men's Health.

In a sentence: If Greg submarines me one more time, I'm cutting him off for good.

Roaching is when someone you've been seeing exclusively says they've still been seeing other people, saying they thought your relationship was casual.

The person who commits roaching uses this as an excuse after getting caught because the victim didn't consent to it.

In a sentence: When I found out she was roaching me, I had to end our relationship.

A situationship happens when both partners are remain vague about their relationship status and trajectory.

While a friends with benefits dynamic would require both people to agree to that label, a situationship happens when both people avoid discussing labels or their significance in each others' lives.

In a sentence: Derek is still in a situationship with Lionel, even though it makes him anxious.

Orbiting happens when someone ends your relationship or stop texting you, but continues to interacting with your social media posts. This includes viewing your Instagram story or commenting or liking posts.

Orbiting can also happen when a dating app match or other love interest interacts with you online, but never makes a move to meet in person.

In a sentence: I can't stand how Jeff is always orbiting me even though he said he needed to break up so he could find himself.

Cuffing seasons refers to the cold fall and winter months when singles could be more inclined to couple up with someone for the warmth of cuddles and a respite from loneliness.

The term "cuffing" comes from the word handcuffs and means to be linked or hooked up with another person. It was used as early as 2011 in college student newspapers and is traced back to African American vernacular, according to Merriam Webster.

In a sentence: I should redownload my dating apps since it's about to be cuffing season.

Fizzling, or slowly creating distance in a relationship until you no longer communicate, has long-existed in dating, but now it comes with a fresh new term.

In a recent episode of the show "Abbott Elementary," millennial-aged characters refer to the concept of fizzling as "petering out," when one teacher on the show asks for advice for ending his relationship.

For someone on the receiving end of it, fizzling can lead to self-doubt and confusion, Hinge dating expert Moe Ari Brown, told the Mirror.

"If you're not feeling the connection, remember there's another human being on the other side of that screen and they deserve closure," Brown said.

In a sentence: I don't want to have an uncomfortable conversation with Jesse, so I'm going to let our relationship fizzle until she gets the message.

Rizz is short for charisma.

On TikTok where the term is widely used, rizz is a positive attribute that means someone is charming and a sought-after dating prospect.

It was first coined by Twitch streamers Kai Cenat, Silky, and Duke Dennis in 2021, Insider previously reported.

In a sentence: That man has undeniable rizz, just look at him!