When your Tinder flame flickers out, it's unlikely that you and your hookup will have much to hash out in person. But that's not to say there wasn't real emotion behind even the most casual of encounters.
Healthy relationships of all kinds require mutual respect, and that ought to go for booty calls, too.
That said, finding the choice words to end things with your fling minimizes the feelings of hurt or rejection, and also allows you to break things off without tarnishing yourself or being overly dismissive of the living, breathing person on the receiving end.
Here are some examples of breakup texts to send when you want to sever a casual encounter and leave minimal casualties behind.
1. When He Won't Commit
Sorry, Thad, it was fun while it lasted.
The casual sex is great but you want something more. When you receive the Saturday night "wyd?" booty call text, wait until the next morning (when your loins have cooled) to extricate yourself with your dignity in tact.
2. When You're Not Emotionally Available
There's no shame in honesty!
Maybe she's a person you genuinely appreciate. It might be fun to date her for a while, but you just need to invest a lot of energy in yourself right now.
If you don't have the space in your life that's necessary for a relationship to move forward, a clear break is your best bet to avoid wounded hearts and lingering insecurities.
3. When She Doesn't Get That You're Ghosting Her
Can't she take a hint?
Your second date was a disaster. You left in a huff and haven't texted since. So why is she still all up in your social media mix?
The attention from her liking every single one of your Instagram selfies is flattering, sure, but there seems to be some miscommunication here. Better clear it up.
4. When He Only Hits You Up Because He's Lonely
OK, if you were in a serious relationship, then the emotional give-and-take might require a little bit more yielding in this situation. I mean, who hasn't asked their boyfriend, girlfriend, or close friend, for that matter, to come hang out just because you're bored?
But that privilege is reserved for an emotionally intimate relationship based around more than just sex.
A casual date does not make you anybody's plaything. And while you're calling it quits with this guy, you might ask that he delete your number, too.
5. When He Still Wants To Be Friends
Maybe you left town just after you went on a few casual dates, or maybe you met someone else whom you want to date seriously.
Whatever happened, things between you two ended, but he's still texting you and doesn't seem to understand that you don't want to keep in touch.
It's OK to not be friends with everybody you've ever dated. You just need to let him know so he isn't left in the lurch.
Bonus: When You Decide To Be Petty After All
Look, it's not that I am entirely against being petty, but I think there's a time and place when it's best used.
When it comes to breaking up, petty is most powerful when it's pulled out as a last resort. So if you've tried all of the above strategies and your date still isn't getting it — or if they came out as an undercover jerk — then it's time to pull out all the stops and unleash a dose of well-ripened petty paired with some well-placed, sarcastic emojis.
Or if even that's too much effort, you can try sending lyrics to breakup songs, too.
There was a time when sending breakup texts was considered, as a blanket rule, inappropriate or rude. But hookup culture requires new concepts of etiquette. And as a primary means of communication when it comes to hookups, iMessage is a perfectly acceptable way of ending casual relationships.
Need to break up with your hookup and not finding your specific scenario addressed above? When in doubt, stick to the golden rule, and try to write the breakup text you would like to receive.
