Most people have experienced at least one toxic relationship in their lifetime (if you haven’t, congrats and please be our life coach). But that one relationship is enough to make any sane person want to ward off toxicity for the foreseeable future. In order to do that, we must ask ourselves what exactly is it that makes a relationship toxic? Why is it that someone can be a nightmare ex to one person, but a perfect partner to the next?
There are many factors that can contribute to a toxic relationship, including age and external stresses, that make a person less able to function in a relationship. But one of the biggest reasons a relationship can turn toxic is a clash of personalities. Sometimes two people just bring out the worst in each other, and their inability to see eye to eye on just about anything provides the perfect environment for a toxic relationship to flourish. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most toxic zodiac pairings for your sign, so you know what to look out for.
About the Astrologer
Sofija Dakic is a psychic at Nebula, a spiritual guidance platform. With nearly a decade of professional experience, Dakic has helped thousands navigate relationships, personal growth and life transitions. She combines her strong academic background in social sciences with her deep knowledge of astrology, offering a grounded and practical approach. Dakic has received formal training in astrological transits and progressions and has pursued advanced studies in astrology, including accredited courses in Astrology and Progressions and Quantum Astrology, presented by renowned Dutch astrologer Patricia Grootjans.
The One Zodiac Sign That Basically Gets Along with Every Other Sign
1. Aries’s Most Toxic Match: Taurus
Russell Crowe (Aries) and Danielle Spencer (Taurus) divorced in 2018. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images)
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Aries Toxic Traits: must be in charge, prone to ghosting
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Taurus Toxic Traits: stubborn to a fault, cannot concede
Aries and Taurus make great friends, but when it comes to romantic relationships these two could not be worse for each other. On the one hand, we have notoriously impulsive Aries who cannot stand taking a backseat to anyone. On the other, we have stubborn Taurus, who can’t stand having their ideas challenged, especially if the other person might be right. When these two get together they form a particularly toxic combination of people who love to give advice but can’t receive it. To make matters worse, when it comes time for the relationship to end, Aries will fall back on old habits and try to ghost, while Taurus will dig their heels in and demand an explanation. This will lead to a back-and-forth of novel-length texts that lasts well into the next calendar year.
2. Taurus’s Most Toxic Match: Gemini
Paula Abdul (Gemini) and Emilio Estevez (Taurus) divorced in 1994. (Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty Images)
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Taurus Toxic Traits: patient to the point of complacency or hopelessness
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Gemini Toxic Traits: needs constant change/stimulation
When it comes to toxic zodiac couples, Taurus and Gemini are mismatched in almost every way, particularly in the arena of patience. While Taurus is known for being able to wait out almost any situation, Gemini needs constant change and stimulation to be excited. This can lead to one of those relationships where Gemini does everything in their power to get Taurus to break up with them, while Taurus waits out the relationship hoping they’ll get better. In the end, both signs just end up with a lot of wasted time.
3. Gemini’s Most Toxic Match: Capricorn
Elvis (Capricorn) and Priscilla (Gemini) Presley divorced in 1973. (Photo: Bettmann/Getty Images)
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Gemini Toxic Traits: a little too free handed about life (and inflexible about it)
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Capricorn Toxic Traits: rigid, cannot handle spontaneity
Talk about an odd couple, and not in a cute 1970s sitcom way. When fun-loving and non-committal Geminis get into a relationship with reliable, to-do list-making Capricorns, the result can only be a disaster. Geminis thrive on spontaneity, whereas Capricorns despise it, meaning it is nearly impossible to plan a date that both these signs will enjoy. While Capricorns want to get to the restaurant ten minutes early (because that’s what it says on the reservation!), Geminis would rather skip dinner all together to walk around the park. The desires of one person making the other absolutely miserable? That’s the definition of toxic.
4. Cancer’s Most Toxic Match: Sagittarius
Tom Cruise (Cancer) and Katie Holmes (Sagittarius) divorced in 2012. (Photo: Jon Kopaloff/Contributor/Getty Images)
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Cancer Toxic Traits: ultra clingy and overly sensitive
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Sagittarius Toxic Traits: needlessly reckless and annoyingly flakey
Cancer is a sensitive, nurturing sign, and nothing causes more distress than an overwhelming and reckless Sagittarius. Per Dakic: “Cancer craves emotional safety, consistency and meaningful one-on-one connection, while Sagittarius thrives on adventure, freedom and the next big escape. Cancer wants to build a cozy home base and stay close to family, while Sagittarius is already booking their next solo trip to Iceland.”
Sadly, these character traits mean that there’s no way for the signs to find compatibility. As Dakic explains, Cancer will always perceive Sagittarius as flakey and unavailable, and the latter will feel like Cancer is too clingy. Their values can clash at every level: Cancer sees Sagittarius as flaky and emotionally unavailable, while Sagittarius feels smothered by Cancer’s need for closeness. “Sooner or later, one accuses the other of being too needy or distant, and things unravel quickly,” she says.
5. Leo’s Most Toxic Match: Scorpio
Lisa Bonet (Scorpio) and Jason Momoa (Leo) divorced in 2022. (Photo: Steve Granitz/Getty Images)
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Leo Toxic Traits: needs undivided attention, entitled
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Scorpio Toxic Traits: gets lost in the big picture, prone to jealousy
Is there a worse match for a Leo than a Scorpio? Probably not. While Scorpios like to spend their days focusing on life’s big questions, Leos want a partner who is going to focus on one thing and one thing only: them. Leos feel entitled and deserving of lots of attention and praise, while Scorpios are reluctant to dole out accolades unless they really, truly mean it. To make matters worse, Leos have no problem turning on the charm and seeking out praise and attention elsewhere, which will drive the notoriously jealous Scorpio mad. This pairing is one of the most toxic in the zodiac and has probably led to countless public screaming matches.
6. Virgo’s Most Toxic Match: Pisces
Jason Sudeikis (Virgo) and Olivia Wilde (Pisces) separated in 2020. (Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images)
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Virgo Toxic Traits: too pragmatic
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Pisces Toxic Traits: too dreamy
The toxicity of a Virgo-Pisces pair comes down to one central conflict: Virgo wants Pisces to pull their head out of the clouds, and Pisces wants Virgo to join them in the sky. While Virgo and Pisces are another pair that actually work great as friends, the opposites attract approach is less likely to work in a romantic relationship, where both are likely to just end up frustrated. What day-dreamer wants to be pulled out of their fantasy world just to talk about bills? What practical person wants to spend 20 minutes re-hashing their partner’s most recent dream about clowns? Best for these two to remain just friends.
7. Libra’s Most Toxic Match: Virgo
Hilary Duff (Libra) and Mike Comrie (Virgo) divorced in 2016. (Photo: Vincent Sandova/Getty Images)
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Libra Toxic Traits: prone to gossip and talking too much
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Virgo Toxic Traits: prone to being overly critical and talking too much
This is one of those toxic zodiac pairings where each brings out the worst in the other. Critical Virgo can really get into Libra’s head, and Libra’s gossipy side has a tendency to make Virgo not trust them. The two are also big talkers but neither likes to pass the mic, meaning they’re likely to spend all of dinner talking over each other. Both have a tendency to make the other nervous, which can lead to toxic behavior as they try to restore balance or make sense of what is going on.
8. Scorpio’s Most Toxic Match: Aquarius
Demi Moore (Scorpio) and Ashton Kutcher (Aquarius) divorced in 2011. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Contributor/Getty Images)
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Scorpio Toxic Traits: emotionally intense, which can become explosive
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Aquarius Toxic Traits: too detached and pulls away from connection
“Nothing drives Scorpio up the wall more than Aquarius’s emotional detachment,” Dakic explains. “While Scorpio craves deep emotional intimacy and unspoken loyalty, Aquarius prefers to keep things light, logical, and independent. This mismatch can lead to constant misunderstandings, especially when Scorpio senses Aquarius pulling away and becomes more intense in response.” Rather than try to one-up each other in dramatic arguments, Dakic says that this toxic zodiac pairing defaults to passive-aggressive comments and cold silences—leaving unfortunate friends caught in the middle.
9. Sagittarius’s Most Toxic Match: Pisces
Robin Thicke (Pisces) and Paula Patton (Sagittarius) divorced in 2015. (Photo: Steve Granitz/Getty Image)
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Sagittarius Toxic Traits: forgives too easily
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Pisces Toxic Traits: holds a grudge forever
One of Pisces’s less savory traits is their ability to hold grudges for a super-long time, while Sagittarius is an extremely forgiving sign. Dakic tells me that the former likes to think they’re the selfless one, but on the inside, all they want is a big gold star for their emotional labor. Sags, who Dakic says interpret forgiveness as permission to move on, won’t understand why Pisces wants to rehash the fight from two nights ago, and Pisces will feel like Sags don’t value their feelings. “Pisces thinks Sagittarius is emotionally clueless. Sagittarius thinks Pisces is playing the victim,” she continues. Doomed to forever speak different emotional languages, this leads to lots of never-ending fights that bubble over at least once a month because they’re never truly resolved (aka the absolute worst types of fights).
10. Capricorn’s Most Toxic Match: Libra
Dita von Teese (Libra) and Marilyn Manson (Capricorn) divorced in 2007. (Photo: Mike Marsland/Getty Images)
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Capricorn Toxic Traits: cannot handle spontaneity
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Libra Toxic Traits: lives for gossip, talks too much, doesn’t always create welcoming environments
Capricorn and Libra both enjoy sex and find sex to be important in their lives, but they are unlikely to have a sexual connection between themselves because the chemistry is just not there. These two are very likely to start out as friends who get into a relationship only to realize they have no X factor. Capricorn can also find Libra hard to talk to, leading to a relationship where boredom (and thereby toxic behavior) can reign supreme.
11. Aquarius’s Most Toxic Match: Taurus
Andrew Form (Aquarius) and Jordana Brewster (Taurus) divorced in 2021. (Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images)
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Aquarius Toxic Traits: too detached, pulls away, unanchored
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Taurus Toxic Traits: homebody, needy, smothering
Aquarius and Taurus could not be more different. Taurus will want Aquarius to do nothing more than stay home with them, leaving Aquarius feeling constrained and frustrated. Aquarius can be really distant, driving needy Taurus mad and making it highly likely somebody (probably Taurus) will walk away with their heart broken. And nobody likes being responsible for breaking somebody else’s heart.
12. Pisces’s Most Toxic Match: Aries
Tom Jane (Pisces) and Patricia Arquette (Aries) divorced in 2011. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images)
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Pisces Toxic Traits: cannot yield to authority, unforgiving
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Aries Toxic Traits: must be the leader, doesn’t think before speaking
Pisces hates being told what to do, and Aries loves nothing more than to play the leader. This could lead to a very explosive relationship as the two try to wrestle control from one another over even the smallest things. Basically, picking a restaurant will be impossible. Additionally, Aries’s tendency to sometimes put their foot in their mouth won’t match up well with notoriously unforgiving Pisces, who holds grudges forever.
So what to do if you find yourself in a potentially toxic pairing? Don’t despair! Hard work and communication can help any relationship to flourish, especially if you go into it knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses as partners. Keeping a relationship safe and non-toxic for everyone is about love and respect, so keep that in mind and you can’t go wrong!
So what to do if you find yourself in a potentially toxic pairing? Don’t despair! Hard work and communication can help any relationship to flourish, especially if you go into it knowing each other’s strengths and weaknesses as partners. Keeping a relationship safe and non-toxic for everyone is about love and respect, so keep that in mind and you can’t go wrong!
3 Lessons I Learned from Ending My Toxic Relationship
