Dry texting is when someone consistently sends short, low-effort replies — one-word answers, no questions back, minimal engagement. It doesn't automatically mean they've lost interest. It can mean they're busy, a naturally terse texter, or distracted. The pattern over time matters far more than any single short reply.
Calling it out directly as an accusation ('you're being short with me') usually backfires. A better move is either a playful reset that invites more ('you're giving me nothing to work with — what's going on?') or a direct ask to switch mediums: a call or a date cuts through textual ambiguity much faster than trying to fix the conversation in writing.
Look for a change from their baseline, not just short replies. The clearest signal of fading interest is the absence of reciprocal curiosity — they stop asking questions back. Combine that with no initiation and slow response times, and you have a meaningful pattern. One dry day means nothing. Two weeks of zero questions means something.
Give it a few days, then send one low-pressure message — something easy to respond to, not a check-in that puts them on the spot. If that gets nothing, you have your answer. Sending multiple follow-ups rarely changes the outcome and usually makes you feel worse. Check out the full guide on <a href='/dating-guides/what-to-do-when-someone-stops-texting-you/'>what to do when someone stops texting</a> for the longer version.
Not quite. Dry texting is reduced engagement — they're still responding, just minimally. Ghosting is when replies stop entirely. Dry texting can be a precursor to ghosting, but it can also just be a rough week. The distinction matters because the response is different: dry texting calls for a reset move, while ghosting calls for a decision about whether to follow up once or let it go.
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