General
squick
What does squick mean?
That gut-level recoil you feel at a particular kink or act, used precisely because it carries no moral verdict. Saying something squicks you means 'not my thing, makes me wince' not 'this is wrong.' The whole reason the word exists is to flag your own discomfort without yucking someone else's yum. Likely a blend of 'squirm' and 'icky.'
"Needle play really squicks me, but no judgement, you do you."
Origin
Coined on the Usenet group alt.sex.bondage before 1995, originally in the phrase 'someone else's kink,' and later popularised in alt.tasteless. A portmanteau of 'squirm' and 'icky.'
Frequently asked questions
What does "squick" mean?
It's the ick you feel toward a kink that isn't for you — with zero moral judgement of the people who are into it.
How do you use "squick" in a sentence?
"That trope is a squick for me, but no shade to anyone who enjoys it."
What's the difference between a squick and a kink-shame?
A squick is just personal distaste with no judgement, whereas kink-shaming condemns others for what they like.
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