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

Since the show premiered, he's made headlines for his character's nude scenes and incestuous relationship with his younger brother Lochlan (Sam Nivola). —Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 25 Mar. 2025

While this can be true, abusive incestuous relationships are often the result of social factors that create an environment where this is normalized. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 24 Mar. 2025

The statement also disputes the idea of an incestuous relationship, which Murphy said was a theory of Dominick Dunne (played by Nathan Lane in the series), the famed Vanity Fair writer who covered the trials. —Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024

Why did a series rooted in facts, while playing with shifts in perspectives, intermittently portray the brothers as having an incestuous relationship? —Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 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