incestuous

adjective

in·​ces·​tu·​ous in-ˈses-chə-wəs How to pronounce incestuous (audio)
-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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of the earliest examples in film was Pier Paolo Pasolini's 1975 film Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, which depicted a father-daughter incestuous relationship. Dory Jackson, People.com, 5 May 2025 This season has been filled with all sorts of unsavory drama, including a party turned incestuous, a surprise cameo (and unsettling monologue) from Sam Rockwell and an Inigo-Montoya-esque confrontation with a shadowy landowner. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025 Even the hints at a somewhat incestuous relationship feel like an echo of season two, when Jack and Quentin were posing as family members. Samantha Allen, Them, 18 Feb. 2025 The song highlights West’s claim of having an incestuous relationship with his male cousin as a kid. Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for incestuous

Word History

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of incestuous was in 1532

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Incestuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/incestuous. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

incestuous

adjective
in·​ces·​tu·​ous in-ˈses-chə-wəs How to pronounce incestuous (audio)
1
: being or involving incest
2
: guilty of incest
incestuously adverb

Medical Definition

incestuous

adjective
in·​ces·​tu·​ous in-ˈses(h)-chə-wəs How to pronounce incestuous (audio)
1
: constituting or involving incest
2
: of, relating to, or guilty of incest
infantile incestuous wishes of the Oedipus complex

More from Merriam-Webster on incestuous

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!