Tainted Love
Affection gone toxic
Tainted love is romantic affection that has been corrupted, damaged, or poisoned—love mixed with betrayal, obsession, toxicity, or pain.
The phrase captures relationships where genuine feeling coexists with something harmful: Their tainted love destroyed them both.
The expression gained wide currency from the 1981 Soft Cell song of that title.
- Soft CellBritish synth-pop duo
- synth-popSynthesizer-based pop music
- music chartSong popularity ranking
- one hit wonderAct with lone hit
- pop anthemWidely known celebratory song
1980s · new wave · dance floor · dance remix · betrayal · cover version · heartbreak · broken heart · codependency · gaslighting · iconic · cover · resentment · obsession · manipulation · hit · longing · despair
- 80s HitsBillie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, Like a Virgin, Don't Stop Believin
- One-Hit WondersVanilla Ice, Toni Basil, Chumbawamba, Gotye, EMF
Tainted Lovepure love
Affection free of conditions
true love · unconditional love · puppy love · first love · holy matrimony
Tainted LoveI Will Always Love You
Parting promise of devotion
Endless Love · At Last · Unchained Melody · My Heart Will Go On · wedding songs
Tainted Lovefalling in love
Developing romantic feelings
happily ever after · love at first sight · wedding vows · growing old together · reconciliation
taint, taints, tainted, tainting, love, loves, loved, loving, lover