Cushioning
What does Cushioning mean?
Cushioning is dating slang for keeping backup romantic prospects warm while seeing someone else, so there are other options available if the main relationship fails.
Cushioning used in a sentence
“He kept flirting with three old matches while dating her, which his friends called cushioning.”
This example shows the term in context rather than treating the definition as a literal word-for-word substitution. Slang often depends on tone, audience, and the conversation around it.
How do you use Cushioning?
The 'cushions' may be exes, matches, friends, or people kept in lightly flirtatious contact. The key idea is maintaining fallback options for emotional or romantic security rather than simply having platonic friendships.
Where did Cushioning come from?
The label became common in online dating coverage in the late 2010s. Its metaphor is literal: backup connections are imagined as cushions that soften the fall if a current romance ends.
Common variations of Cushioning
cushion
A backup romantic prospect kept available in case the main relationship ends.
cushioned dating
A descriptive variant for maintaining backup options while dating.
Cushioning: frequently asked questions
Is cushioning the same as cheating?
Not automatically, but it can cross relationship boundaries when the backup connections involve hidden flirting or emotional intimacy.
Why is it called cushioning?
The extra romantic options are imagined as cushions that soften the impact of a breakup.