Forbidden Romantic 

Like romance itself, this person no matter what cannot find love as they seek it— much like a hopeless romantic, however instead of just believing in love, this one tends to give up on trying to find it for oneself and instead looks for it’s presenwe in the world around them whether it be real or of fiction.

Bob: Hey Steve!! Look over there, it’s a forbidden romantic

Steve: You mean hopeless right?
Bob: no..I mean forbidden, dude can’t find love for himself so he be looking for it in other’s
Steve: heh? well, alright then..

Forbidden Romantic by One and Only Fool November 13, 2022

Hopeless romantic

A phrase that has been consistently confused for “HELPLESS romantic”, but people continue to use because people who know better are so afraid to correct erroneous or nonsensical words these days. The original phrase “HELPLESS lover” means someone who CAN’T HELP falling in love, e.g. they fall in love very easily. “Hopeless romantic” may have become a joke that’s a play on the originally phrase, implying that someone loves romance but it ends up badly for them. Unfortunately millennials and younger generations took “hopeless romantic” as the synonymous with HELPLESS romantic and ran with it without anyone ever correcting it.

“Yeah, I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic.”
“Uh, you mean *helpless* romantic?”

Hopeless romantic by TiredOfYallDamnit December 31, 2023

Hopeless Romantic

Clare Callinan

Clare Callinan, a hopeless romantic, can’t get over zane :(

Hopeless Romantic by nwats December 9, 2024

flosexual/romantic 

A term used by people who are attracted to femininity, but not specifically any gender. A person could be attracted to a feminine woman, but not a masculine woman, or a feminine man, but not a masculine man, or a fem-presenting non-binary person, rather than anything otherwise.

I identify as flosexual/romantic, which means I am sexually attracted to feminine people, regardless of what gender they identify as.

flosexual/romantic by hertaspacestation_ April 4, 2025

Non-romantic situationship 

Definition:
A complex, emotionally enmeshed connection between two people who used to date, kind of still do emotionally, but now insist they’re “just friends” while continuing to talk for hours, share intimate life details, flirt occasionally, and confuse everyone in their lives including themselves.

Origin:
Usually evolves after a romantic breakup that failed to properly detach due to leftover fondness, emotional codependency, or an unwillingness to lose access to the only person who truly gets your weird jokes and trauma responses.

- “He’s not my boyfriend—he’s my non-romantic situationship. We only talk every day, share pet custody, and make each other jealous. Totally casual.”

Non-romantic situationship by BeHumanOutLoud May 13, 2025

Homeless Romantic 

A person, typically male, who uses love bombing to secure a place to live on short notice.

See also: hobosexual, love train rider

Steve finessed his way into Sheila’s house for the weekend. That guy is a homeless romantic.

Homeless Romantic by lesigh79 August 14, 2025

Actually Romantic

A sarcastic phrase used to describe when someone’s hate or obsession with you crosses into weirdly affectionate territory. Comes from Taylor Swift’s 2025 song “Actually Romantic” on The Life of a Showgirl, where she mocks a rival’s fixation on her by calling it “sweet” and “romantic.”

Basically means: You’re so obsessed it’s kind of flattering.

She’s been subtweeting me for weeks. Honestly? It’s actually romantic.

Actually Romantic by tslover1989 October 17, 2025