Squish: What It Means, 25 Squishing Signs & How It’s Different from a Crush

Wondering what squish means? Is it a platonic attraction or some kind of romantic or non-romantic reference? Here’s everything you MUST know about squishes!

In a political sense, squish was defined as “someone who could not be counted on to back a conservative initiative for philosophical reasons.” Or, as per the American Heritage Dictionary, “a person regarded as weak and ineffective.” But that’s not what we’re going to talk about here.

A squish is someone you simply must be around but in a non-sexual kind of way. As human beings, our nature is to want to belong and to connect with people.

But, there are very few people we encounter in life that we are absolutely enamored with. That means a person who has a squish likes a person fully and wholeheartedly, just not in a romantic way.

There are times when we meet people and are completely drawn to them. Love is what makes the world go round, but it isn’t always in a romantic way.

What’s a squish?

Well, there are different ways that you experience a deep and intense attraction to someone. When you squish someone, it means you have a strong desire for an emotional relationship with a person, but not sexually or romantically. You just love everything about them and being with them.

Squish is a platonic crush, but it isn’t always the traditional type of crush. An asexual attraction to someone, you don’t want just to be friends with someone; you want to be something special to them.

Like being besties, or having a bromance, when you squish on someone, it means you just can’t get enough of them.

Is it a squish or a crush

You might be a little confused about the difference between a squish and a crush. Well, here are some similarities and differences. [Read: Man crush – Why it’s okay to have a crush on the same gender]

1. You think about them a lot

Whether you have a crush or a squish, you think about that person all the time. You wish you could be with them and share experiences with each other.

2. You want physical closeness

When you’re with your squish, you might want to hang out with them as often as possible. You want to hug them, sit close to them, or even put your arm around them.

But you don’t want anything romantic, like kissing. But for a crush, the feelings are romantic in nature.

3. You love being around them

Usually, a squish is someone you know really well. And a crush can fall into that category too. However, you can have a crush from afar, but not a squish.

You might have a crush on someone who works in the same company as you, but you’ve never talked to them. You can’t do that with a squish. [Read: Having a crush while in a relationship – why it’s okay and what to know]

4. Jealousy

When you have a crush on someone, you tend to get jealous if they talk to or date other people. That’s because they want to be romantically involved with them. But with a squish, there isn’t much jealousy. Sure, there can be, but it’s a lot less common.

Asexual squish

In the asexual community, a squish is kind of like a crush. But since they are asexual, they don’t have any interest in forming a romantic relationship with someone.

To asexual people, it just means that they have a deep connection to another person. It’s an intense feeling of attraction, liking, appreciation, and admiration for the person they want to get to know better. [Read: Aromantic asexual – What it is, traits, and challenges of this sexual identity]

It’s different from just wanting to be friends with a particular individual. That’s because there is an intensity to their feelings, and they feel elated when they are around the person they have a squish on.

Aromantic squish

Aromantic squishes are very similar to asexual squishes. Aromantic people feel the intense desire to be close, to get to know them better, and to be with that someone, but they have no romantic feelings for them. That’s become “aromantic” means “without romantic feelings.”

The subtle signs you may have a squish on your hands

If you’ve ever met someone, whether in a relationship or single, and thought you were cut from the same cloth, you feel alive for the first time when with them, then they are your squish.

1. They just get you

Your squish is someone who just “gets” you. Like finding a kindred spirit, you want to be around them because you know that whether you sit on the couch watching television or hitting the clubs, it makes no difference. When you are with them, you have the best time ever. [Read: Queer platonic relationship – 25 signs you might already be in one]

2. When they text you, you get that giddy feeling in your stomach

Just like a crush, when you get a text from your squish, you get all giddy like a school kid. It’s like the non-romantic version of New Relationship Energy, yet you get those butterflies and excitement when talking to that person.

Your squish says funny things and is witty. Whatever they say lightens your day simply because you know that by them contacting you, they thought about you as much as you thought of them.

3. You want to be with them, like, all the time

Like the first time you fall in love, you want to be close to your main squish as much as possible. In fact, when they leave, or you drop them off, you already talk about meeting back up in an hour or two because you always want to spend time with them.

Things just can’t seem to get any better than the time you are with your squish.

4. When they walk into the room, you light up

Butterflies are a key component of a squish, but they are a little different from love. It is like they bring you to life. All the things that were black and white become colorful when they enter the room. [Read: Good friends are like stars – 18 ways to build lasting relationships]

5. They make everything better

If you have a bad day or just feel extremely bored, your squish makes everything fun. From wedding crashing to making a tragic funeral less tragic, when they are around, it just feels like you have a personal bubble of awesomeness!

6. When you have a problem, they’re the first person you call

If you are in a car accident, your boyfriend or girlfriend breaks up with you, or you have a tragedy, regardless if you have a significant other or not, your squish is your emergency contact. They are the person you turn to to make everything okay.

7. They make you lighthearted and happy

Even if you are a moody soul, you can’t hold a frown or a grudge in the face of your squish. They make you happy no matter what is going on.

They have that personality like everything you’ve dreamed of rolled into one. It has nothing to do with sexual feelings at all. [Read: How to have fun with friends: 30 really fun ways to beat boredom]

8. You will do whatever they want, even if you aren’t into it

If they call and say they want to go to a Cool & the Gang reunion concert *even though you have no idea what that even is*, you are on board.

It doesn’t make a difference what they want to do. If they ask you, then it is on. You are ready and waiting. It isn’t about what you do together; it is just about being together.

9. You get a little jealous if there’s a third wheel

There is nothing worse than a third wheel unless your squish wants them there. You are all good with them having other friends, but when it is your time, it is your time. You don’t like others joining along.

10. You find reasons to contact them

If everything you see makes you want to share it with them, or you even come up with ways to contact them during the day just to make sure they’re real and still there, then you might be squishing on them. [Read: No friends? Uncomfortable reasons your life’s how it is]

11. You have a nickname for them

If you aren’t really a nickname-type person but suddenly find yourself shortening their name or even making up a cool name from one of your adventures, then you probably have a squish on your hands. Nicknames are a way to say you mean something special to them.

There can be a thousand Julies, but if you switch it to “J,” that means you set them apart from the rest of the crowd.

12. If you have a free night, you want to spend it with them

If you have a free night, or hell, a free two hours, you want to meet up with your squish for some replenishing. They are like a breath of fresh air and the best way to get through a long day or to top one off in the right way.

13. You dress alike

Whether on purpose *God forbid* or just because you are that much alike, often you and your squish find yourself dressing the same. You show up wearing the same color or the same style of dress. You know you should go home and change but figure what the heck, let’s just do this.

14. You start to sound alike

You and your squish spend so much time together that you start to talk alike. You use the same phrases, use the same hand gestures, and find that you finish each other’s sentences.

Sometimes it is just from being together so much, while for others, it is because you are two peas in a pod. [Read: The 8 kinds of friends everyone needs in their life]

15. You like all the same things

You agree that margaritas are the bomb, you like the same movies, and laugh at the same jokes. It is like you are cut from the same cloth. You never fight about what you want to do because you both always want to do the same things.

Having a squish is one step up from a bestie because it is a crush, but it has nothing to do with sexual attraction. You are just purely attracted to them.

Having squish can make your life better 

Believe it or not, having a squish in your life can make you a better person. Here is why.

1. You’re always feeling inspired

If you have a squish in your daily life, then you don’t ever dread going to work, school, or wherever you see them. Just the thought of seeing your squish makes you want to leap out of bed and rush to see them.

You might even feel giddy, and that makes you feel inspired all day long. [Read: 20 happy ways to make someone think of you and desire and miss you]

2. You want to look your best

Just because you don’t have romantic feelings for your squish doesn’t mean that you don’t want to look good for them.

Since you have such deep feelings for them, their opinion matters to you. So, you will probably start wearing nicer clothes and maybe even eating better or working out. 

3. A squish can introduce you to new things

Because you like this person so much, you want to know everything about them. You want to see their world from their perspective. When you learn little details about them, you try out their likes and dislikes so that you can feel closer to them.

4. They motivate you to do and be better

Because you always want your squish’s attention, you do extra work just to be the best person you can be. You start to set goals and do some self-improvement because you want to impress this person. [Read: The best inspirational movies for when your motivation lags]

5. They make you happy

When you have a squish, they bring excitement and happiness into your life. Every day is beautiful when you see them, sit with them, or just hang out. This leaves you feeling fulfilled and makes your day – every day.

6. A squish can make you healthier

Having intense positive feelings for another person gives us a deep sense of connection to them. And even though you think all the thoughts are in your head, they can affect your body too.

When you feel this way, positive chemicals are released into your brain. This influences your feelings of pleasure and well-being. It also helps you keep alert and have a feeling of euphoria.

[Read: Platonic love and its revealing secrets]

If you find someone who just gets you, you want to be with all the time, and they give you butterflies, then you have found yourself a squish.