micro-cheating
Almost crossing lines
Micro-cheating describes small acts of romantic or sexual betrayal that fall short of a full affair but push against relationship boundaries: flirting with a coworker, maintaining a secret emotional connection, or hiding certain texts from a partner.
The term acknowledges that infidelity exists on a spectrum.
Liking all her Instagram posts isn't technically cheating, but it feels like micro-cheating.
Series of high-pitched calls
Sense of unease about motives
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- doubtLack of firm belief
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
snooping · monitoring · questioning · paranoia · hypervigilance · confrontation · second-guessing
Playfully showing romantic interest
- textingSending typed mobile messages
- likingPositive inclination toward
- commentingMaking remarks about
- winkingBrief one-eyed closure
double-tapping · subtweet · gazing · compliments · innuendos · attention-seeking
Practice of hiding information
- hidingStaying out of sight
- omissionFailure to include
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- dishonestyDisposition toward falsehood
misleading · downplaying · minimizing · deflection · excuse-making · gaslighting · compartmentalizing
Lack of regard
- oversteppingExceeding appropriate bounds
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- dealbreakerUnacceptable condition that ends talks
- boundary-pushingExceeding accepted limits
Series of high-pitched calls
suspicion
Sense of unease about motives
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- doubtLack of firm belief
anxiety · snooping · monitoring · questioning · paranoia · hypervigilance · confrontation · second-guessing
flirting
Playfully showing romantic interest
- textingSending typed mobile messages
- likingPositive inclination toward
- commentingMaking remarks about
winking · double-tapping · subtweet · gazing · compliments · innuendos · attention-seeking
secrecy
Practice of hiding information
dishonesty · misleading · downplaying · minimizing · deflection · excuse-making · gaslighting · compartmentalizing
disrespect
Lack of regard
- oversteppingExceeding appropriate bounds
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- dealbreakerUnacceptable condition that ends talks
- dating slangghosting, breadcrumbing, talking, situationship, cuffing
micro-cheatingfaithfulness
Devoted loyalty maintained
loyalty · fidelity · devotion · adultery · commitment
micro-cheatingopenness
Quality of being accessible
honesty · transparency · full disclosure · open communication · candor
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