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'Shrekking' Is a Dating Trend That Has Its Risks

75 1
22.09.2025

What's being referred to as “Shrekking” on social media may seem a little ogre the top. It's the practice of purposely dating down—meaning dating someone whom you consider below your standards—so that you can have the upper hand in the relationship. The belief is that the other person should be so grateful to have you and therefore will keep going extra miles to keep you happy. However, Shrekking can lead to an unpleasant reckoning—or perhaps Shrekoning—when the supposedly inferior person doesn't treat you nearly as well as you expect. In fact, that person may even, gasp, end up dumping you, which is being called on social media "getting Shrekked."

Yep, you've got folks on TikTok saying stuff like "we've all been there" and then deeming a former significant other a Shrek. If you haven't figured it out yet, being described as a Shrek is typically not a compliment. "Kind of like Shrek" is not something to put on your dating profile, and "thank you" might not be your first response when your date says, "You remind me of Shrek." Shrek is that giant, green-skinned ogre, who's been the titular character of that DreamWorks animated film franchise. He was portrayed as not only being ugly in appearance but also somewhat ugly in personality at the beginning of the series. That was until he finally found his........

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