What Are the Dark Sides of a Cancer Man? 10 Things to Look Out For

Professional astrologers weigh in on Cancer men’s toxic traits

Co-authored by Angel Eyedealism and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: January 18, 2026 Fact Checked

Cancer men are some of the most creative, intuitive, and empathetic guys in the zodiac, but like all the signs, they do have their weaknesses. Ruled by the moon, Cancers are known for their strong emotions, which can shift on a moment’s notice, like the changing tides. Luckily, we’ve compiled this helpful guide of their dark traits, plus helpful advice on how to deal with them, so you know what you’re getting into with a Cancer guy. We’ve even included expert insights from professional astrologers, so keep reading!

The Dark Side of Cancer Males

Cancer men feel things very deeply, so they can be moody or overly emotional sometimes. Sensitive Cancers also get offended easily, and when they do, they may get passive-aggressive and give you the silent treatment. Other negative traits of Cancer men include jealousy, clinginess, possessiveness, and holding grudges.

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Cancer men can be very moody.

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Cancer men feel things very deeply, which can be overwhelming. “They’re very emotional, but because men are often not socialized to express emotions in a healthy way, they can struggle to process their feelings, which can create challenges in their relationships,” explains astrologer Julia Topaz.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Julia Topaz
Astrologer

Expert Interview} In other words, they tend to let their emotions rule them, rather than the other way around. And, when they’re feeling overwhelmed by their strong emotions, they’ll often become moody (or “crabby”—pun intended!).
- How to deal: Psychic astrologer Stina Garbis recommends withdrawing a bit and not taking it personally when he’s having a bad day. “Give him space when he needs it, and know that he will come back around in a couple of days as a new man,” she says.^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Stina Garbis
  Psychic Astrologer
  
  Expert Interview}
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Julia Topaz is an astrologer with over 127k followers on Instagram, where she shares insightful astrological tips. She’s also the owner of the astrology practice Look Up the Stars.

Stina Garbis is a psychic astrologer and the owner of Psychic Stina in Corvallis, Oregon. She’s also a well-known spiritual social media influencer and author.

Angel Eyedealism is an astrologer with nearly three decades of experience. She’s been featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Refinery29, and more.

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Cancer men can be easily offended.

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A sensitive Cancer guy often takes things personally. Even though their symbol is the Crab, this water sign doesn’t have a very tough outer shell when it comes to criticism.^{[3]
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Research source} They tend to take even gentle suggestions as personal attacks, and well-meaning jokes can actually offend them in a deep way. With this in mind, you might feel like you’re walking on eggshells around the Cancer man in your life.
- How to deal: Try to steer clear of the type of humor that involves criticizing or poking fun at things a Cancer guy might actually feel insecure about. If he ends up getting offended by something silly, gently remind him that this wasn’t what you meant, then give him a little space. Eventually, he’ll get over it and come back out of his shell!

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Cancer men can be passive-aggressive.

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When a Cancer guy is upset, their go-to move is the silent treatment. This Crab isn’t a fan of confrontation. “It’s one of the most passive signs,” explains professional astrologer Angel Eyedealism.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Angel Eyedealism
Professional Astrologer

Expert Interview} So, instead of talking things out, he’ll retreat into his shell and go completely silent. This can be pretty darn frustrating to a Cancer guy’s friends or romantic partner, since they may not even realize why he’s upset in the first place!
- How to deal: If a Cancer guy has gone radio silent, give him a bit of space first. If it’s only a small issue, he may get over it privately and then start acting normal again. If the silent treatment persists, reach out and ask him to talk—passive Cancer might not take this step himself.
- Cancers are loving and affectionate by nature, and they don’t like to be in a bad place with friends, family, or partners. A quick chat to work through the issue may be all it takes to get things back to normal!

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Cancer men tend to be clingy.

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Cancer men can be a little codependent. They have huge hearts, and they love to be around the people they care about. Cancer’s commitment to their relationships is a beautiful thing, but they can go a bit overboard sometimes, and they may not realize others need space from them to recharge. For example, if you’re dating a Cancer man, Garbis says you should prepare to feel a little bit smothered, but not necessarily in a negative way: “He is going to want to be close and to be helpful,” she explains.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Stina Garbis
Psychic Astrologer

Expert Interview}
- How to deal: If you need a little more alone time, have a gentle talk with the Cancer guy in your life to let him know. Tell him that it has nothing to do with how much you care about him—it’s just something you need to feel mentally and emotionally solid.

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Cancer men can be possessive.

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In a romantic relationship, Cancer guys can get pretty jealous. “They tend to be traditional, and they usually want long-term relationships,” explains Topaz.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Julia Topaz
Astrologer

Expert Interview} This can be a great thing, but since Cancers take romance so seriously, they may start to view you as their future spouse (and therefore be super jealous or suspicious of anyone they think may be threatening that relationship).^{[7]
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Research source}
- How to deal: A Cancer guy’s jealousy often comes from a desire to protect his heart (which is understandable!), but this doesn’t mean it’s okay for him to be overly possessive. Sit him down and let him know how his possessiveness makes you feel, and remind him that there’s no love without trust!

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Cancer men can be a little controlling.

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They want to be helpful, but they can go a bit overboard with this. “Cancers are the mothers of the zodiac,” which means “emotional duty is the trigger point for Cancer,” says Eyedealism.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Angel Eyedealism
Professional Astrologer

Expert Interview} In other words, a Cancer guy loves to take care of people, so you may find that he’s always trying to “fix” things in your life. This comes from a good place, but it can come across as a little controlling or overbearing at times.
- How to deal: Make it a point to go to him for advice and help when you actually need it, so that he’ll be less likely to try to insert himself into the situation when you don’t. For example, “Go to him and ask for his help if you’re sick or injured,” suggests Garbis.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Stina Garbis
  Psychic Astrologer
  
  Expert Interview}
- If he already feels like he’s being helpful and useful to you, he likely won’t go looking for other ways to “help”!

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Cancer men may hold grudges.

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Cancers tend to have a long memory for the wrongs done to them. They can usually get over smaller slights fairly easily, but if a Cancer feels deeply wronged, hurt, or betrayed by someone, they never forget it. And, of course, the longer a grudge festers, the more toxic and intense it can become. Disagreements are a normal part of human relationships, so a Cancer guy’s inability to move on can definitely be a big problem!
- How to deal: If you’ve messed up in your relationship with a Cancer guy, offer a sincere and heartfelt apology, and make sure you really mean it! Cancers can spot fake energy a mile away, so be as genuine as you can.
- From there, just give your Cancer guy time to process. If your connection was strong enough and your apology was sincere, hopefully, he’ll be able to let go of his grudge! If not, you did everything you could do, and that’s okay, too.

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Cancer men can be secretive.

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Once trust issues are introduced, a Cancer guy can get pretty closed-off. He’s super sensitive and holds onto past hurts, so if he feels like he can no longer trust you, he’ll likely start keeping his feelings and thoughts close to his chest. A healthy relationship needs openness and honesty to function, so Cancer’s refusal to be vulnerable can have some negative effects.
- How to deal: Make a point to be vulnerable with him and share some of your deeper thoughts or feelings. This will show him that you want your connection to be one of trust and openness, which may make him feel safer to open up to you, too.

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Cancer men can seem pretty pessimistic.

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Emotional Cancer guys are prone to melancholy. All water signs feel things deeply, but Eyedealism explains that this goes to the extreme with Cancers. In fact, she calls them the most intense water sign!^{[10]
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Expert Source

Angel Eyedealism
Professional Astrologer

Expert Interview} They feel positive emotions, like joy and love, to the nth degree, but this also goes for negative emotions, like sadness, grief, or anxiety. When they’re getting swept up in these kinds of emotions, a Cancer guy may seem prone to pessimism or negativity.
- How to deal: Give him space, and trust that his brighter moods will come back around. A trademark trait of Cancers is the shifting nature of their emotions, like the moon-ruled tides of the ocean. This means the lows won’t last forever, and the highs are right around the corner!

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Cancer men often take on others' problems.

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Cancer’s caring nature can definitely go too far sometimes. Cancer is one of the most empathetic and compassionate signs of the zodiac, which is actually their superpower. Unfortunately, when left unchecked, this compassion can lead Cancer guys to take on others’ problems as their own, to the point that they’re neglecting their own needs. This type of self-sacrifice isn’t a good thing, and if they get too stressed or overwhelmed, it ends up affecting their mood (and the relationship) negatively.
- How to deal: Remind the Cancer guy in your life of the importance of self-care. Cancers feel happiest when they’re being helpful to others, but they can’t actually do good in the world if they aren’t healthy and happy themselves. You can’t pour from an empty cup!

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The bottom line?

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Cancer guys have a few negative traits, but many of them actually stem from the traits that make Cancers so amazing and lovable. For example, their moodiness comes from their deep sensitivity and connection to their emotions, their clinginess comes from their desire to be caring and helpful, and their jealousy comes from their deep commitment to their relationships.
- All in all, Cancer guys are wonderfully empathetic and intuitive people, and with a bit of awareness and patience, they make incredible friends and romantic partners!