Dry texting
Etymology
From dry in the sense of dull or without warmth, applied to texting. The term spread with dating and messaging culture in the late 2010s and early 2020s, naming a common complaint: the reply that technically answers but offers nothing back.
noun · /DRY teks-ting/
Replying to messages with minimal, low-effort responses that signal boredom or disinterest.
What it names
It names a soft form of rejection conducted entirely through tone — one-word answers, no questions, no energy — that lets someone withdraw without ever saying so.
Example
Every reply was just "lol" or "nice" — the dry texting told me everything.
Related idea
A step short of ghosting: dry texting still replies, but so flatly that it signals the same waning interest.