Meanings
- neologismslanguncountableThe practice of intentionally dating someone whom one finds unattractive, or less attractive than one desires, in the belief that this person will be more caring, faithful, or attentive as a partner.
"Shrekking" may be a new addition to the modern dating lexicon, but it's long-been a universal experience.
2025 August 21, Charles Trepany, “The new dating term 'Shrekking' sounds innocent. It's not what you think”, in USA Today2 more examples
“Although ‘Shrekking’ may sound like a pragmatic response to dating fatigue, in reality it reveals some concerning patterns in how singles approach love and relationships,” says Claire Rénier, relationship expert at dating app happn.
2025 September 12, Olivia Petter, “Shrekking – or deliberately dating 'ugly' men – is a new low for modern love”, in The IndependentIt is clear that Shrekking is a divisive concept. While some view it as a sign of emotional maturity, others fear that romantic relationships could become little more than rational calculations.
2026 June 22, Jessica Scemama, “What’s the Deal With 'Shrekking'?”, in Vogue
- gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of Shrek
Note that Shrekking is not the same as compromising, taking the time to get to know someone, or seeing the good in someone beyond superficial characteristics, as has been advanced in the Shrek movies.
2025 September 21, Bruce Y. Lee, “The Trouble With "Shrekking" While Dating”, in Psychology Today
Origin
From Shrek + -ing, referencing the animated fantasy film Shrek (2001), in which a princess falls in love with the titular ogre.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Shrekking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Shrekking
“Shrekking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Shrekking. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Shrekking,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Shrekking.
Source: Shrekking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.