Breaking free from a toxic relationship is more than just words on a screen. But sometimes all we need is a little inspiration and motivation. So I’ve compiled the best toxic ex quotes.
They serve as powerful reminders that toxic partners and unhealthy relationships don’t define your worth.
The healing process might feel impossible when you’re drowning in emotional abuse and poisonous relationships. Scrolling through good captions about letting go can be the first step toward finding your inner peace. Sometimes the best way forward starts with simple truths that resonate.
These quotes aren’t just about your toxic person or the pain they caused. They’re about recognizing that true love never leaves you feeling broken or questioning your worth. Consider this collection your personal wake-up call.
Whether you’re struggling with a romantic relationship gone wrong or healing from emotionally abusive relationships, these words of wisdom will guide you. Let’s explore quotes that will help you rediscover your strength and embrace a better future.
149 Toxic Ex Quotes
- “Some exes are like toxic waste, best to keep a safe distance.” – Unknown
- “My ex’s toxicity taught me the importance of self-love and boundaries.” – Unknown
- The best revenge on a toxic ex? Living your best life without them.” – Unknown
- “Breaking up with toxicity is the first step towards finding genuine happiness.” – Unknown
- “Leave toxic exes in the past, where they belong. I’m moving forward to better things.” – Unknown
- “Toxic ex, toxic past.” – Unknown
- “Free from toxicity now.” – Unknown
- “Moving on, leaving toxicity behind.” – Unknown
- “No room for toxic exes.” – Unknown
- “Toxic exes: deleted and forgotten.” – Unknown
- “The best clowns belong in the circus, not in relationships. Goodbye, toxic ex!” – Unknown
- “Toxic exes: the inspiration behind creating the ‘Block’ button.” – Unknown
- “My toxic ex’s behavior belongs on a reality TV show. Can someone call the producers?” – Unknown
- “Dear toxic ex, I upgraded to a better version of happiness. Thanks for the motivation!” – Unknown
- Toxic exes are like bad haircuts. They eventually grow out, and I found better stylists.” – Unknown
- “Toxic exes never deserved the love I gave. Now, I’m cherishing my heart with extra care.” – Unknown
- “When a toxic ex shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” – Maya Angelou
- “Your toxic ex’s opinion of you is none of your business.” – Regina Brett
- “Sometimes the best revenge is to smile and move on from a toxic ex.” – Yolanda Hadid
- “Stop asking me to trust you while I’m still coughing up water from the last time you let me drown.” – R.H. Sin
- A toxic ex will try to come back just to show you they still have power over you.” – Unknown
- “The day I stopped caring about my toxic ex was the day I started living again.” – Unknown
- “You’ll never heal by going back to what broke you.” – Unknown
- “Dear Ex… When you see me, I want you to recognize what you had, regret what you lost, and realize what you’re never getting back.” – Unknown
- “If you didn’t want me to tell people that you were a lying piece of trash then you shouldn’t have been a lying piece of trash. Pretty simple.” – Unknown
- “When they go out of their way explaining and insisting especially if they haven’t been confronted…They are guilty as sin.” – Dru Edmund Kucherera
- Once someone cheats in the relationship, there’s no reason to stay. If they truly loved you they would’ve never cheated.” – Anurag Prakash Ray
- “He would hurt me and make the hurt my fault. So no matter who got hurt, I was to be blamed, always.” – Namrata Gupta
- “Just because someone desires you, does not mean that he values you.” – Julianne Cantarella
- “Don’t let your loyalty become slavery.” – Unknown
- “They didn’t cheat because of who you are. They chose to cheat because of who they are not.” – Charles J. Orlando
- “A toxic ex is someone damaged beyond repair.” – Unknown
- “The only way to win with a toxic ex is not to play.” – Unknown
- “If you want to forget something or someone, never hate it, or never hate him/her. Everything and everyone that you hate is engraved upon your heart.” – C. JoyBell C.
- “You didn’t just cheat on me; you cheated on us. You didn’t just break my heart; you broke our future.” – Steve Maraboli
- “If another woman steals your man, there’s no better revenge than letting her keep him. Real men can’t be stolen.” – Unknown
- “Sometimes you need to give up on people, not because you don’t care but because they don’t.” – Unknown
- “When a man steals your wife, there is no better revenge than to let him keep her.” – Sacha Guitry
- “Until a man gets himself healed, he will be toxic to every woman who tries to.” – Unknown
- “Dear Self: Stop re-opening your doors for toxic people, then calling it ‘seeking closure.'” – Reyna Biddy
- “He put me through hell, and I called it love.” – Unknown
- “I burned my bridges so the devil couldn’t follow me.” – L.M. Browning
- “I seem to be torn between ‘I wish we’d met earlier’ and ‘I wish we’d never met.'” – Ahmed Mostafa
- “You knew what you were doing and you knew it would hurt me but somehow that still didn’t stop you.” – Unknown
- “They’ll stab you in the lungs and then ask why you’re having trouble breathing.” – Unknown
- “It was strange, really. A couple months ago, I had thought I couldn’t live without him. Apparently I could.” – Gabrielle Zevin
- “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” – C.G. Jung
- “I’d rather be alone than deal with a toxic ex who makes me feel lonely.” – Unknown
- “Moving on is not about not loving someone anymore; it’s about letting go of someone toxic.” – Unknown
- “A toxic ex will make you think you’re crazy for expecting basic human decency.” – Unknown
- “Don’t let toxic exes rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out.” – Zig Ziglar
- “If you’re betrayed, release disappointment at once. By that way, the bitterness has no time to take root.” – Toba Beta
- “You make me feel like a firefly. Trapped in a bell jar; starved for love.” – Ayushee Ghoshal
- “It’s amazing how someone can break your heart and you can still love them with all the little pieces.” – Ella Harper
- “Like arsenic, toxic people will slowly kill you. They kill your positive spirit and play with your mind and emotions. The only cure is to let them go.” – Dennisse Lisseth
- “Staying in an unhealthy relationship that robs you of peace of mind, is not being loyal. It is choosing to hurt yourself mentally, emotionally, and sometimes, physically.” – Kemi Sogunle
- “If they are not making you glow, glow alone.” – Unknown
- “It is better to be alone than in bad company.” – George Washington
- “You’ll never see how toxic someone is until you breathe fresher air.” – Unknown
- “A mistake is an accident. Cheating and lying are not mistakes, they are intentional choices.” – Unknown
- “Stop thinking about him, because he’s not thinking about you.” – Unknown
- “The moment you realize your worth, you’ll say a final goodbye to anyone who doesn’t.” – Unknown
- “Not everyone expresses love the right way. If it means manipulation, stress and mental control, there’s no justification no matter how much they love you.” – Unknown
- “Release the toxic and infectious spreaders of misery, souls destroying souls and poisonous liars.” – Giorge Leedy
- “Mental abuse is much more painful than physical abuse because you are consumed by your own thoughts.” – Unknown
- “I took my power back by letting toxic people go.” – Unknown
- “Sometimes bad things fall apart so good things can fall together.” – Marilyn Monroe
- “You’ll never be good enough for the wrong person.” – Unknown
- “A relationship controlled by ambiguity, jealousy, and control is not a relationship at all.” – Unknown
- “I know that it really hurts to move on but it hurts more to stay somewhere you aren’t appreciated, respected and loved.” – Unknown
- “Be brave enough to say ‘This is not what I want.'” – Unknown
- “Never let someone who contributes so little control so much.” – Unknown
- “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and get yourself together.” – Elizabeth Taylor
- “Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got.” – Robert Brault
- “Sometimes the most toxic thing you can do is trying to keep a toxic relationship alive.” – Unknown
- “The person who doesn’t value you is blocking you from the one who will.” – Robert Tew
- “Your peace is more important than driving yourself crazy trying to understand why something happened the way it did.” – Trent Shelton
- “Cutting ties with a toxic ex is not giving up, it’s growing up.” – Unknown
- “Don’t text your toxic ex. Go to therapy instead.” – Unknown
- “The day you stop caring about your toxic ex is the day your healing begins.” – Unknown
- “Sometimes you can be touched by god, but not healed. Often when this happens, he is using your pain for a greater purpose.” – Shannon L. Alder
- “Toxic exes come back when they see you doing better without them.” – Unknown
- “Sometimes what you miss is the person you thought they were.” – Unknown
- “Your toxic ex doesn’t deserve closure. Your peace of mind does.” – Unknown
- “If they loved you like they said they did, they wouldn’t have done what they did.” – Unknown
- “Forgiveness is giving up hope for a better past.” – Lily Tomlin
- “Sometimes letting go is an act of greater power than defending or hanging on.” – Eckhart Tolle
- “The best time to let go of a toxic ex is right now.” – Unknown
- “Until you heal yourself, every relationship you have will be toxic.” – Unknown
- “Don’t waste words on people who deserve your silence.” – Carlos Ruiz Zafón
- “Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.” – Unknown
- “You can love them, forgive them, want good things for them…but still move on without them.” – Mandy Hale
- “You don’t lose when you lose fake friends.” – Joan Jett
- “When being in a toxic relationship at times you may have to step outside yourself, to see yourself, so you can find yourself and love yourself again.” – Angel Moreira
- “The hottest love has the coldest end.” – Socrates
- “What does it feel like when you set yourself free from a toxic ex? It feels like peace.” – Unknown
- “Watch how your life starts improving once you cut off a toxic ex.” – Unknown
- A toxic ex will blame you for their toxic behavior.” – Unknown
- “Moving forward is how you defeat a toxic past.” – Unknown
- “Your healing is found in letting go.” – Unknown
- “Each day goes by, and each night, I cry.” – Madison Beer
- “When toxic exes can no longer control you, they’ll try to control how others see you.” – Unknown
- “Every toxic ex was once someone’s answered prayer.” – Unknown
- “Letting go of a toxic ex doesn’t mean you failed. It means you chose yourself.” – Unknown
- “A toxic ex will always try to write your story. Don’t let them hold the pen.” – Unknown
- “When a toxic ex tries to come back, remember why they became an ex.” – Unknown
- “Better alone than with a toxic ex who makes you feel lonely.” – Unknown
- “I’m proud of my heart. It’s been played, stabbed, cheated, burned and broken, but somehow still works.” – Alcatraz Dey
- “Letting go of a toxic boyfriend is an act of self-care.” – Unknown
- “If six of y’all went out, then four of you were really cheap.” – Whitney Houston
- “Could it be that you are at the crib with another lady?” – Destiny’s Child
- “Such a disappointment when you defend someone for so long thinking they are different and they turn out to be just like what everyone said.” – Unknown
- “Relationships never die a natural death. They are always murdered by attitude, behavior, ego, or ignorance.” – Unknown
- “I gave you my heart, I just didn’t expect to get it back in pieces.” – Unknown
- “Cheaters don’t think cheating is wrong until they get cheated on.” – Sonya Parker
- “Fire false friends as early as possible. Do it before they dig out the dream seeds you’ve planted!” – Israelmore Ayivor
- “The wise do not consider the chains and shackles of jail to be the toughest restraints. The chains of attachment are the strongest of the ties that bind.” – Thich Nhat Hanh
- “A broken heart bleeds tears.” – Steve Maraboli
- “Sometimes, we just fall in love with the wrong people.” – Unknown
- “Just because someone is your family doesn’t mean you have to keep them around if they are toxic or abusive. Don’t let people guilt you.” – Winnie Nantongo
- “I remember one desolate Sunday night, wondering: Is this how I’m going to spend the rest of my life?” – Suzanne Finnamore
- “Bushwhacked, I examine my hands. Same hands. Rings still there but no longer valid.” – Suzanne Finnamore
- “Why do you think of him when you know he’s not thinking of you?” – Unknown
- “If love can fade, so can pain.” – Unknown
- “Until you let go of all the toxic people in your life you will never be able to grow to your fullest potential.” – Unknown
- “Stay strong. Never ever ever EVER turn back to a toxic relationship.” – Unknown
- “A real man doesn’t have time to cheat because that man is too busy providing all of which a good woman deserves.” – Ritu Ghatourey
- “A man can love you from the bottom of his heart, and still find room at the top for somebody he claimed was nobody.” – Kiki Strack
- “Seriously, if the bastards cheat on you, then they don’t deserve you anyway.” – Kody Keplinger
- “When you notice someone does something toxic the first time, don’t wait for the second time before you address it or cut them off.” – Shahida Arabi
- “Make sure you’re not saying ‘It’s complicated’ when it’s actually TOXIC.” – Steve Maraboli
- “When it comes to abuse, you believe there’s no way out. There is always help. There is always a way out.” – Rev. Donna Mulvey
- “Even if toxic people are right about what is ‘good,’ they are wrong if the approach is not healthy.” – John Lewis Lund
- “Know your worth and please don’t invest in toxic people or relationships, because any bond that requires servicing is not worth your time.” – Masaba Gupta
- “Pure gold does not rust. Only gold alloys do so. You may have golden dreams. But if you go in the company of toxic people, you become a gold alloy and what that means is that you can rust at any time!” – Israelmore Ayivor
- “Many people get into a relationship as a way to compensate for something they lack or hate within themselves.” – Mark Manson
- “Do not lose yourself holding onto someone who doesn’t care about losing you.” – Unknown
- “The presence of the person you hate is far more agonizing than the absence of the person you love.” – Shon Mehta
- “From beginning to end, all this phony relationship can offer you is a toxic combination of fake love and real abuse.” – Claudia Moscovici
- “Just because someone is toxic doesn’t mean you hate them. Sometimes you’re just sane enough to know they’re bad for you.” – Unknown
- “We can deeply love our poison. We can love the taste of it, the scent of it, the comforting weight of it in our belly.” – Maggie Young
- “Consistency is genuinely improving yourself to become a good match for those with whom you are in relationships while distancing yourself from people when their actions become too toxic.” – Dexter A. Daniels
- “From ex to X, toxic no more.” – Unknown
- “Less toxic, more self-love.” – Unknown
- “Breaking free from toxic bonds.” – Unknown
- “Toxicity flushed, happiness embraced.” – Unknown
- “The emoluments of toxic workplace is stress & depression, but by the time taxes are taken out, it’s just sort of a haggard existence.” – Abhysheq Shukla
- “Let things come and go. Stay calm, don’t let anything disturb your peace, and carry on.” – Germany Kent
- “You survived the worst part. You’re going to survive the recovery.” – Unknown
Final Thoughts
Moving past a toxic relationship takes more than just finding inner peace. The healing process starts when you finally accept that toxic love and emotional abuse have no place in your beautiful life.
Social media posts from your toxic partner or their new girlfriend can trigger anxiety disorders. But those toxic captions and unhealthy relationships are just cinder blocks weighing you down. Let go of a bad relationship by focusing on building your better future.
True love doesn’t leave you questioning your good taste or self-worth. Sometimes, a poisonous relationship becomes the wake-up call we need to discover our strength. The best way forward isn’t giving second chances to a toxic person who hurt you.
Your romantic relationship may have ended, but your story isn’t over. Take these quotes as a great way to remind yourself: emotionally abusive relationships end, but your journey to happiness is just beginning.
Hi! I'm Jeff Campbell. I am a father and blogger and divorced in 2022. I love spending time with my 3 kids and am still learning how to navigate life as a single dad and ex-husband; a life I didn't choose but helped create, and have accepted. Click Here to learn more about me. Click Here to learn more about my site. Editorial Policies.
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