Search icon

Is Cuddling Cheating? (5 Important Rules)

March 3, 2024

Cuddling is one of the biggest grey areas in the cheating category. Where one person will swear that having physical contact with someone is cheating, another will insist that intentions matter more than anything else. In the latter example, cuddling is only sometimes considered cheating. 

No matter how complicated it is, it’s important to be able to answer is cuddling cheating so make sure that you don’t accidentally ruin your relationship. 

Is Cuddling Cheating In Your Relationship?

is cuddling cheating in your relationship?

Please note how the heading reads “in your relationship.” This is because one couple might answer is cuddling cheating with a solid yes, but another might consider platonic cuddles to be perfectly fine. In order to determine an answer, you need to make sure that you take your partner and relationship into consideration.

1. Cuddling Is Cheating If You Two Consider Body Contact Cheating Or Inappropriate

If neither person in the relationship is comfortable with someone hugging people other than close friends or family, it’s safe to say that this is definitely cheating. If you would consider your husband hugging a female coworker inappropriate, you obviously would not feel comfortable if they were cuddling someone else. 

Communication on the topic is important. If you’re in a new relationship, ask the other person how they feel about it. Most men are going to tell you that they would not want you to cuddle with another person. 

2. Cuddling Is Not Cheating In Open Relationships

In this type of relationship, partners don’t consider sex as cheating. So, why would they consider hugging or cuddling cheating? In most situations, they wouldn’t. If you’re in an open relationship with someone else, you’re safe to cuddle with other people after you’re done doing the deed. 

3. Cuddling Is A Very Intimate Act

Cuddling is more than just a quick physical act. It’s just as intimate, if not more so than being intimate with someone. This is because you bond on a deeper emotional level when you cuddle with someone else. 

Cuddling can also be an emotional act. It can be used as a comfort, or to help fill an emotional void that you may be experiencing. This is why so many people are comfortable snuggling with their best friends, even if their friend is of the opposite sex. 

If you enjoy cuddling with other people and were like this before you were in a relationship with your significant other, they might not view it as cheating. Make sure to use healthy communication, such as I statements, to discuss the topic with them. It’s really common for two people to see this differently. 

4. Try Cuddling With Your Partner Instead

try cuddling with your partner instead

If you love to cuddle, and your partner views snuggling with someone else as cheating, try doing it with them. As you partner, they should be able to meet your cuddle needs. This solution guarantees that you’re never going to cheat by cuddling with another person. 

You will also get your needs for emotional connection, intimacy, physical contact, etc. met by cuddling with your partner. If your partner is not as affectionate as you are, try to reach a compromise. 

5. Cuddling Is Cheating In My Book

I know that it’s not having sex with someone, but that’s like saying that giving someone oral sex is not cheating because there is no penetration. (A guy told me that once.) It doesn’t matter. If you are my boyfriend and are cuddled up on the couch with someone else, I would consider it cheating. 

My Personal Opinion

To me, spooning with another person is not as much of a grey area as people imply. For example, would you cuddle with a co-worker on a lunch break because they are sad? Probably not. You would give them a hug. This is more appropriate, and it does not leave anything to the imagination. 

In addition to that, I think it leaves too much for interpretation. The other person might think that you like them more or have feelings for you that you don’t know about. I think it’s best to save those intimate things for someone that you are actually being intimate with

FAQs

Is hugging cheating?

No, hugging is not cheating. It’s not even cheating ish. This is a common way to say hello and goodbye in many cultures. Hugging is also not considered sexual, or to have any type of sexual implication. However, consider asking your partner their views on it just to make sure that you two are on the same page. 

Is it normal to cuddle with your guy best friend?

As long as you both are on the same page, and it’s strictly platonic cuddling, it’s okay. However, keep in mind that other people usually don’t see it that way. Platonic cuddling is just not a thing yet. Most people will assume that you two are dating, or at least like each other. 

What do guys like when cuddling?

Guys, by nature, like to protect women. They like to feel like a hero. Because of this, they’ll prefer to wrap their arms around you, especially if you’re smaller than they are. Guys like to rest their chin on top of your head, too. 

Does cuddling mean anything to guys?

If a guy likes you, cuddling can mean a lot. Cuddling for both sexes is very soothing. It offers comfort and can make a person feel secure. Even if a person is not involved in your love life, they can still enjoy the benefits of wrapping their arms around you while watching a movie. Guys like physical affection just as much as girls do. 

How do guys feel when a girl hugs them?

When a girl hugs a guy, he will feel relaxed. It usually only turns a guy on to hug a girl if there is already a lot of sexual attraction between the two of them. If he is bigger than her in size, he’ll instantly feel like her personal shield against the world. 

The Bottom Line

Whether or not this is thought to be cheating often depends on the people involved in the relationship. What do you think? Would you be okay with your partner cuddled up next to someone else?

Utilize this tool to verify if he's truly who he claims to be
Whether you're married or just started dating someone, infidelity rates have risen by over 40% in the past 20 years, so your concerns are justified.

Do you want to find out if he's texting other women behind your back? Or if he has an active Tinder or dating profile? Or even worse, if he has a criminal record or is cheating on you?

This tool can help by uncovering hidden social media and dating profiles, photos, criminal records, and much more, potentially putting your doubts to rest.

Subscribe

Join Our Newsletter

Receive weekly tips & tricks to improve your love life.
Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.