12 Things That'll Make a Capricorn Angry

Astrologer Kyle Thomas explains what really grinds a Capricorn’s gears

Co-authored by Kyle Thomas and Annabelle Reyes

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 Fact Checked

Capricorns tend to be pretty calm and even-keeled on the surface, and they don't like to appear overly emotional. This can make it difficult to know what gets under their skin—until it's too late. But never fear! Here, you'll learn exactly what makes a Capricorn mad, and you'll also find out how you can make amends if you end up unintentionally irking your favorite Sea Goat. We’ve even consulted professional astrologers for expert insights into Capricorn’s personality, so you have everything you need to stay on their good side. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

What sparks a Capricorn’s anger?

Astrologer Kyle Thomas explains that Capricorns value stability, long-term planning, and tradition, so they get mad when people aren’t on the same page about these things. With this in mind, things like betrayal, unreliability, being overly emotional or dramatic, and laziness really bother a Capricorn.

1

Betrayal

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Capricorns value trust more highly than anything else. Trust doesn't come easily to a Capricorn—you have to earn it. It takes a long time for a Capricorn to truly open up and feel safe with someone, so if you betray their trust, they may see this as unforgivable. You might not see an angry outburst (it takes a lot to make a Capricorn explode), but you also might never see them again.
- Generally, it's more important to be direct and honest with a Capricorn than anything else—even if you're afraid the truth will hurt. They'd rather you be honest than try to spare their feelings.
- “This is a person who’s governed by the planet Saturn, so they’re going to have some Saturnian qualities,” explains Vedic astrologer Tara Divina. “This means that they’re going to value realness and authenticity.”^{[1]
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- If you do something to violate a Capricorn's trust, come clean about it as soon as possible. Be humble and take ownership of what you did. They'll be more likely to forgive you if you show that you understand and respect their feelings.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Kyle Thomas is a globally-recognized pop culture astrologer and the official Resident Astrologer for PEOPLE magazine.

Tara Divina is a professional astrologer who gives personalized readings that answer her clients’ biggest questions about relationships, money, purpose, and career.

Angel Eyedealism is an astrologer with nearly 3 decades of experience. She has been featured in Vogue, Cosmopolitan, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Refinery29, and more.

Stina Garbis is an astrologer, psychic, and medium with over 30 years of experience. She is also a well-known spiritual social media influencer and author.

2

Unreliability

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Unreliability and flakiness really irritate a Capricorn. “Capricorn, as a cardinal earth sign, values stability and long-term planning,” says Thomas.^{[2]
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Kyle Thomas
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Expert Interview} As a result, a Capricorn gets super frustrated when they feel like someone isn’t showing up for them, following through on a plan, or sticking to their word. Long story short, Capricorns want to be around people they can count on, so make sure you do what you say you're going to do.
- If you have any doubts about something, wait until you know for sure before you tell your Capricorn about it. That ensures you don't have to go back on your word. They will fault you for it, even if what happened was beyond your control.
- Plan for things very carefully, including having at least one backup plan in case the first plan falls through. This is what a Capricorn would do, and they can't understand why everyone else isn't doing the same.
- If you do have to change plans, let them know as soon as you know—don't wait until the last minute. They'll be more understanding if they have time to arrange an alternative.

3

Messiness

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Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, the planet of organization. The adage "a place for everything and everything in its place" was probably written by a Capricorn. These Sea Goats hold strong to their belief in the value of cleanliness and careful organization—if you upset that delicate balance, expect to get the horns.^{[3]
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- Pay attention to where and how the Capricorn in your life keeps things, then mimic them. You won't go wrong if you take care of things the same way they do.
- If you need help cleaning out closets or storage, call a Capricorn! They'll absolutely love to straighten things out for you and get you on the right path.

4

Snobbery

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Proud Capricorns don't take well to snobbery. Give off the impression that you know more, or are more important than the Capricorn in your life, and they won't be in your life for very long. Professional astrologer Angel Eyedealism explains that Capricorns are “incredibly ambitious,” so they work hard to be the best at everything they do.^{[4]
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Angel Eyedealism
Professional Astrologer

Expert Interview} If you so much as imply that there's a better way of doing things, you may find yourself getting the cold shoulder!
- Gentle suggestions work well with a Capricorn if you have an idea for a better way to do things. Get them headed down your path, and then let them think it was their idea.
- Be careful with back-handed compliments and other passive-aggressive comments—a Capricorn will see right through them and not want anything to do with you.

5

Inefficiency

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Goats pride themselves on their efficient use of time. The meme about time-waster meetings that could've been an email was probably created by a Capricorn. This hard-working earth sign has a lot to do and doesn't like to be kept waiting for anything. They’re all about streamlining and simplifying things to make them as efficient as possible. “Capricorn is going to look at things and say, ‘What's practical? What's the most practical use of our time, our energy, and our resources?’” says consulting astrologer and author Donna Stellhorn.^{[5]
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- Be direct and to the point when you're telling a Capricorn something. If they need more information, they'll ask, but they don't like a lot of superfluous details.
- With a Capricorn, early is "on time" and "on time" is late. If you get held up, text them immediately with a new ETA so they can find something to do in the meantime and aren't sitting around waiting on you.

6

Emotional drama

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The grounded, logical earth sign dislikes when people are overly emotional. Capricorns have a reputation for being a little more emotionally reserved, and they can get a bit uncomfortable or even irritated when they feel like someone is being too dramatic or emotional. Most of the time, they’d prefer it if people could stick to the facts in a given situation, rather than letting their emotions run wild.^{[6]
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- If you're trying to convince a Capricorn of something, focus on the logical reasons to do it rather than the emotions behind it. They don't usually consider feelings a good reason to do anything.
- In a volatile situation, you'll win points with a Capricorn if you can take a deep breath and keep your emotions in check until the situation is resolved.
- Don’t make the mistake of thinking Capricorns are emotionless, though! They actually feel things very deeply—they just don’t feel safe showing this to most people. “They may seem reserved, but there's a lot of depth and wit beneath the surface,” Thomas explains.^{[7]
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7

Interruptions

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Hardworking Caps get annoyed when they’re derailed from their work. A Capricorn focuses intently on the task at hand, so if you interrupt them in the middle of something important, you're likely to get an earful. Let them finish whatever they're doing before you bring up something else! For example, if you’re dating a Capricorn, psychic astrologer Stina Garbis cautions against blowing up their phone with extra-long text messages when you know they’re at work.^{[8]
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- Send them a quick message if you can see that they're busy, and let them know that you need to talk to them when they're free. This puts the ball in their court (where they like it) and they'll reach out to you when they get to a good stopping place.
- Even if a Goat doesn't seem busy, it's always a good idea to ask if you can talk to them before you launch into whatever you're going to say. They'll feel respected, which a Capricorn really appreciates.

8

Whining and complaining

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A Capricorn doesn't understand the concept of venting. Ever the earth sign, Capricorns are endlessly practical, says Eyedealism.^{[9]
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Angel Eyedealism
Professional Astrologer

Expert Interview} This means that they get easily frustrated if you're complaining or whining about something, but you're not willing to take action to fix the problem. If you complain about something to a Capricorn, you probably won’t get a soft, comforting response—instead, you’ll get a 10-point plan for how to change the situation, and they’ll probably get upset if you don’t want to follow it.
- If you're in a relationship with a Capricorn, you may need someone else to go to when you want to let off steam. Only go to a Capricorn with a problem when you're looking for a concrete solution.
- If you're going to express frustration about something that's bothering you, try doing it with humor. If you act as though you find it ridiculous, chances are, your Capricorn will too. “Capricorns often develop a dark, dry sense of humor due to the challenges they’ve faced in life,” explains Thomas.^{[10]
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9

Bossiness

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The stubborn Capricorn bristles under authority. Capricorns respect rightful authority, but in a social setting, they're not going to let anyone else boss them around. If you're the type that always has to be in charge, you probably won't get along well with a Capricorn.
- Ask a Capricorn to do something and you'll usually get a pleasant response. Since Capricorns are such hard workers, they're always willing to do things—they just don't want to be ordered to do them.
- It also helps to let them volunteer. If you say, "We've got company coming and the living room is a mess," they'll likely get started picking up before you finish the sentence. Saying "clean the living room," on the other hand, will likely result in a cold stare.

10

Laziness

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Capricorns work hard and expect others to do the same. As a cardinal sign, Capricorns are highly motivated people who love initiating new plans and activities. The influence of Capricorn's earth element also means they value hard work. And their ruling planet, Saturn, makes them driven and ambitious. It's like the perfect storm: there's nothing about a Capricorn that will tolerate laziness in any form.^{[11]
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- This can be a hard one because a Capricorn's definition of "lazy" is probably going to be different from the average person's. But as long as you're willing to pull your own weight, you'll be fine.
- If you're interested in dating a Capricorn, you'll get bonus points for having drive and ambition. They want to be with someone who's as driven as they are and knows what it takes to accomplish what they want.

11

Unruliness

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The planet Saturn makes people in this sign sticklers for structure. For a Capricorn, rules are rules, regardless of whether they're actively enforced or even make sense. If you break a rule, you can expect a Capricorn, of all people, to call you out on it. For example, Eyedealism explains that if someone showed up an hour late to a date with a Capricorn, the Cap would decide there’s no potential right then and there. “They’d be like, ‘I’m so offended by your lack of protocol,’” she says.^{[12]
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- Show respect for the established order by always keeping things "by the book" (especially in the workplace). If you're cutting corners, don't let a Capricorn know about it.
- If you think a rule should be changed, go through official channels to make that happen. A Capricorn will appreciate efforts to change something that's inefficient or impractical.

12

Embarrassment

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A Capricorn places a lot of stock in their public appearance. Stories that feature your favorite Capricorn as the butt of any joke (no matter how loving and well-meaning) are sure to draw their ire. Likewise, if you're in a relationship with a Capricorn, anything that happens in private between the two of you is off-limits for public consumption.
- If there's a funny story you want to share that potentially puts your Capricorn in a bad light, ask them first. They'll love that you thought of their feelings first.
- When you're in a group where someone's picking on your favorite Capricorn, stand up for them or do what you can to change the subject—they'll be forever grateful.

Juliana McCarthy, Astrologer

Capricorns highly value responsibility, integrity, and honesty. They have little patience for laziness, rule-breaking, or deception. Things guaranteed to provoke a Capricorn's anger include people shirking duties, spreading rumors, manipulating others, chronically lying, or generally behaving without scruples or ethics.

Learn How to Attract a Capricorn Man with this Expert Series

Capricorn men can seem closed off at first, but you just need to approach this hard-working earth sign the right way. This expert series will help you attract the Capricorn man of your dreams.

1

How to Attract a Capricorn Guy (an Expert Astrologer's Tips)

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How to Flirt with a Capricorn Man: 15 Tips to Attract a Capricorn

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How to Flirt with a Capricorn Man over Text: Tips & Examples

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11 Effective Ways to Make a Capricorn Man Miss You

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Question

What is a Capricorn's favorite color?

Community Answer

There is some sentiment in favor of the idea that Capricorns like muted colors such as brown or grey. However, as a practical matter, if you asked 100 Capricorns their favorite color, you'd probably get ten different answers.

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