commitment-phobic
Fears long-term bonds
Commitment-phobic describes someone who avoids or fears long-term obligations, especially in romantic relationships.
The term usually appears in dating contexts: He's commitment-phobic—we've been together three years and he won't even discuss moving in.
It can extend to career or financial decisions, but the romantic sense dominates.
Lasting psychological wound
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
- avoidantInclined to evade
childhood · independence · freedom · autonomy · self-sabotage · engulfment · suffocation · trapped
Not expressing clear opinion
- hesitantSlow to act
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
- waveringShowing unsteady resolve
reluctant · skittish · flighty · fickle · elusive · detached · aloof · guarded
Act of escaping detection
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- ghostingAbruptly ceasing all communication
- breadcrumbingInconsistent romantic teasing
- stonewallingDeliberately refusing to respond
withdrawal · distancing · deflection · sidestepping · disappearing · backpedaling · fence-sitting · stalling
Emotional response to threat
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
nervousness · insecurity · unease · terror · distress · overwhelm · vulnerability · guardedness
Emotional closeness between people
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- closenessState of proximity
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
- trustConfidence in another
bonding · exclusivity · monogamy · partnership · long-term · serious · labels · engagement
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
avoidant · childhood · independence · freedom · autonomy · self-sabotage · engulfment · suffocation · trapped
noncommittal
Not expressing clear opinion
- hesitantSlow to act
- ambivalentHaving contradictory feelings
- indecisiveUnable to make choices
wavering · reluctant · skittish · flighty · fickle · elusive · detached · aloof · guarded · evasive
evasion
Act of escaping detection
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
- ghostingAbruptly ceasing all communication
- breadcrumbingInconsistent romantic teasing
stonewalling · withdrawal · distancing · deflection · sidestepping · disappearing · backpedaling · fence-sitting · stalling · delaying
fear
Emotional response to threat
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
panic · nervousness · insecurity · unease · terror · distress · overwhelm · vulnerability · guardedness · wariness
intimacy
Emotional closeness between people
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- closenessState of proximity
- vulnerabilityOpenness to harm
trust · bonding · exclusivity · monogamy · partnership · long-term · serious · labels · engagement · marriage
commitment-phobicemotionally available
open-hearted · vulnerable · all-in · secure · trusting
commitment, commit, commits, committed, committing, committal, recommit, recommitment, phobia