when someone gives you an overwhelming amount of affection one day and then treats you like you're worth nothing the next, giving you mixed signals
girl 1: I don't get it. He said that he couldn’t live without me, yet he’s been ignoring me for days.
girl 2: he's love bombing you, leave him!
girl 2: he's love bombing you, leave him!
by wonkypolenski March 18, 2024
Get the love bombingmug. Love bombing is a manipulative tactic commonly used by predators, abusers, and manipulators (including cult leaders, narcissists, and toxic partners) to gain rapid control over a victim by overwhelming them with excessive affection, attention, flattery, and gifts.
The stages of love bombing can be:
They bypass natural boundaries by making the victim feel like they’re in a fairy tale. Victims feel like they've found a soulmate or someone who finally gets them.
The dopamine rush from all the attention can make someone crave the love bomber’s presence or approval, just like a drug.
Once the victim is hooked, the predator begins to shift behavior: controlling, gaslighting, or isolating them from friends and family.
After the victim is emotionally invested, the love bombing stops abruptly, replaced by criticism, manipulation, or silent treatment. Victims then chase the initial affection, blaming themselves for its disappearance.
The stages of love bombing can be:
They bypass natural boundaries by making the victim feel like they’re in a fairy tale. Victims feel like they've found a soulmate or someone who finally gets them.
The dopamine rush from all the attention can make someone crave the love bomber’s presence or approval, just like a drug.
Once the victim is hooked, the predator begins to shift behavior: controlling, gaslighting, or isolating them from friends and family.
After the victim is emotionally invested, the love bombing stops abruptly, replaced by criticism, manipulation, or silent treatment. Victims then chase the initial affection, blaming themselves for its disappearance.
Person A:
Hey… can I ask you something kind of weird?
Person B
Of course. What’s up?
Person B:
So, I’ve been seeing this guy for like a week, and he’s already telling me he loves me. He texts constantly, buys me stuff, even said he could see us getting married. Is that… normal?
Person B:
Honestly? That sounds like love bombing.
Person A:
Love bombing?
Person B:
Yeah, it’s when someone overwhelms you with affection and attention early on to hook you in. It feels romantic at first, but it’s actually about control.
Person A:
Oh wow. I thought I was just overthinking it. I mean, it did feel nice at first, but now it’s a bit… too much. Like, if I don’t respond right away, he gets weirdly quiet or passive-aggressive.
Person B:
Classic sign. They make you feel special, then punish you when you don’t feed into it. That intensity isn’t love - it’s manipulation.
Hey… can I ask you something kind of weird?
Person B
Of course. What’s up?
Person B:
So, I’ve been seeing this guy for like a week, and he’s already telling me he loves me. He texts constantly, buys me stuff, even said he could see us getting married. Is that… normal?
Person B:
Honestly? That sounds like love bombing.
Person A:
Love bombing?
Person B:
Yeah, it’s when someone overwhelms you with affection and attention early on to hook you in. It feels romantic at first, but it’s actually about control.
Person A:
Oh wow. I thought I was just overthinking it. I mean, it did feel nice at first, but now it’s a bit… too much. Like, if I don’t respond right away, he gets weirdly quiet or passive-aggressive.
Person B:
Classic sign. They make you feel special, then punish you when you don’t feed into it. That intensity isn’t love - it’s manipulation.
by definitely not emir August 4, 2025
Get the Love bombingmug. A rhetorical device presented as a self evident truth, designed to bypass critical thinking with an emotional impact.
That guy spent the whole of our date pushing his Love the truth bomb mantra, what was he trying to prove? Get me to buy into one of his get rich schemes, by using soft mushy words.
by BudgieMuscle1 August 25, 2025
Get the Love the truth bombmug. Similar to traditional love bombing, Whitney Love BombingTM is a tactic established is 2025 where someone overwhelms a new partner with excessive affection, attention, and gifts early in a relationship to establish that they follow through on a challenge and to gain their trust. This can involve grand gestures, constant communication, and promises of future pranks and dares, all designed to make the target laugh, feel presently surprised, and slightly overwhelmed. It is the genuine non-manipulative version of traditional love bombing and, if executed correctly, should lead to great memories, laughter, healthy conversation about boundaries, and a relationship and/or friendship based on mutual consent, pranks, and fun.
I didn’t think she’d actually send tacos for everyone on my behalf at work! She’s Whitney Love Bombing me so hard!
Yeah, it’s nice to be Whitney Love Bombed sometimes! It makes me feel seen, fulfills my love language of receiving gifts & acts of service.
He’s promising you that nothing will ever go wrong and said I love you on a first date trip to Bora Bora? Gurl, that’s not Whitney Love Bombing! That’s Traditional Love Bombing! Run!
Yeah, it’s nice to be Whitney Love Bombed sometimes! It makes me feel seen, fulfills my love language of receiving gifts & acts of service.
He’s promising you that nothing will ever go wrong and said I love you on a first date trip to Bora Bora? Gurl, that’s not Whitney Love Bombing! That’s Traditional Love Bombing! Run!
by Leechan4 April 15, 2025
Get the Whitney Love Bombingmug.