incestuous

[in-ses-choo-uhs]

adjective

1. involving incest.

2. guilty of incest.

3. being so close or intimate as to prevent proper functioning.

   an incestuous relationship between organized crime and government.

incestuous

/ ɪnˈsɛstjʊəs /

adjective

1. relating to or involving incest

   an incestuous union

2. guilty of incest

3. obsolete,  resulting from incest

   an incestuous bastard

4. resembling incest in excessive or claustrophobic intimacy

Other Word Forms

• incestuously adverb
• incestuousness noun
• nonincestuous adjective
• nonincestuously adverb
• nonincestuousness noun
• unincestuous adjective
• unincestuously adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incestuous¹

1525–35; < Late Latin incestuōsus, equivalent to Latin incestu- stem of incestus incest + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

If you described Easttown as an incestuous place at the start of “Mare of Easttown,” you may have mixed emotions about how right you were all along.

From Salon

Fighting back tears, she accused her father of looking at her “with incestuous eyes”.

From BBC

"Monsters" sparked outrage amongst many viewers after its debut for an incestuous subplot.

From Salon

However, as the reviews of "Monsters" begin to pour in, some viewers have hit out at its portrayal of Erik and Lyle — namely, its suggestion that the brothers had some sort of incestuous relationship.

From Salon

But those local prosecutors can have “politically incestuous” relationships with sheriffs, creating pressure to overlook allegations, said Chris Toth, the former executive director of the National Association of Attorneys General.

From New York Times

Related Words

• carnal