Half-effort friendships still charge you full price in energy.

A relationship that only half works still takes all the room a full one would. You spend the same hours wondering where you stand, drafting messages, deciding whether to bring something up, and none of it gets cheaper because they are barely participating. The cost is in the thinking, and thinking does not scale down with their effort.

Add up what one of these is actually taking from you in a normal week. Then either say something plain to them about it or quietly stop initiating. Both are better than continuing to pay full price for half a thing.