We’ve all had those excruciatingly awkward dates that we couldn’t wait to end. But in the end, they make for great stories that we often share for years to come. After all, misery loves company!

So, to make you feel better about your love life, we’ve compiled a list of the top 16 worst dates we’ve ever heard of. Get ready to cringe and be relieved that your own dates aren’t as disastrous as these:

1. The Tardy Tom

Tom showed up thirty minutes late to the date without any explanation. It was a frustrating and inconsiderate start to what turned out to be a forgettable evening.

2. The Chatterbox Cathy

Cathy barely let her date get a word in. She talked non-stop about herself, leaving zero room for any meaningful conversation or connection.

3. The Cheap Charlie

Charlie took his date to a fast-food joint and insisted they split the bill. It was clear he had no interest in making any effort or showing a hint of romance.

4. The Negative Nancy

Nancy spent the entire date complaining about her life, her job, and her exes. It was a complete mood killer and left her date feeling drained.

5. The Flirty Philandering Phil

Phil couldn’t keep his eyes off other people in the room, constantly flirting and making inappropriate comments. Needless to say, his date felt disrespected and humiliated.

6. The Disappearing Act Debbie

Debbie seemed interested and engaged on the date, but then mysteriously vanished without a trace. Her date spent the evening wondering what happened and feeling ghosted.

7. The Clingy Clara

Clara attached herself to her date like a barnacle, constantly invading personal space and bombarding them with texts and calls after the date. It was suffocating and overwhelming.

8. The Rude Ralph

Ralph was rude to everyone they encountered on the date. From the waitstaff to strangers passing by, his disrespectful behavior was a major turn-off.

9. The Overeager Olivia

Olivia came on way too strong, talking about their future together and dropping the L-word within minutes of meeting. It was an instant red flag and left her date feeling uncomfortable.

10. The Indecisive Ian

Ian couldn’t make a decision to save his life. From choosing a restaurant to picking a movie, his indecisiveness made the date more frustrating than enjoyable.

11. The Self-Absorbed Sarah

Sarah couldn’t stop talking about herself and took no interest in her date’s life or experiences. It was an incredibly one-sided conversation that left her date feeling invisible.

12. The Unhygienic Ulysses

Ulysses neglected personal hygiene, leaving a strong odor that was impossible to ignore. His date couldn’t focus on anything else but the offensive smell.

13. The Menu Manipulator

This date insisted on ordering for their partner without any regard for their preferences or dietary restrictions. It was controlling and disrespectful.

14. The Phone Addict

This person couldn’t stay off their phone for more than a few seconds, constantly checking notifications and responding to messages. It made their date feel unimportant and ignored.

15. The Political Pundit

Everything became a political debate with this date, leaving no room for light-hearted conversation or connection. It was mentally draining and not what they signed up for.

16. The Bad Manners Bob

Bob chewed with his mouth open, talked with his mouth full, and had no concept of basic table manners. It was a cringe-worthy experience that his date couldn’t forget.

Remember, no matter how many bad dates you may have endured, you’re not alone. These stories prove that there are plenty of fish in the sea, and sometimes, you have to wade through some unfortunate encounters before finding the right one.