incestuous

adjective

in·​ces·​tu·​ous in-ˈses-chə-wəs 

-ˈsesh-

1

: constituting or involving incest

2

: guilty of incest

3

: excessively or improperly intimate or exclusive

"… mainstream fashion magazines have an incestuous relationship with advertisers, and that undermines integrity."

—Ike Ude

incestuously adverb

incestuousness noun

Examples of incestuous in a Sentence

There were rumors that the father and daughter had had an incestuous relationship.

Recent Examples on the Web

But when a sector dwindles to five companies—or four, or three, or two, or just one—the collective action problem is annihilated by the inevitable coziness among the executives of the incestuous industries. —Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2025

At least part of the controversy surrounded the fact that the series hinted at a gay incestuous relationship between the two brothers. —Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 1 Oct. 2025

The whole thing is just such an incestuous funny story. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025

The romance of the show isn’t solely in the (mildly incestuous) love triangle, though. —Sarah John, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for incestuous

• tempestuous

Kids Definition

incestuous

adjective

in·​ces·​tu·​ous in-ˈses-chə-wəs 

1

: being or involving incest

2

: guilty of incest

incestuously adverb

Medical Definition

incestuous

adjective

in·​ces·​tu·​ous in-ˈses(h)-chə-wəs 

1

: constituting or involving incest

2

: of, relating to, or guilty of incest

infantile incestuous wishes of the Oedipus complex