succubus

noun

suc·​cu·​bus ˈsə-kyə-bəs How to pronounce succubus (audio)
plural succubi ˈsə-kyə-ˌbī How to pronounce succubus (audio) -ˌbē How to pronounce succubus (audio)
: a demon assuming female form to have sexual intercourse with men in their sleep compare incubus

Examples of succubus in a Sentence

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.
But the most infamous demonic teen girl of the 21st century is Jennifer Check, the hot cheerleader turned boy-eating succubus in Karyn Kusama’s cult favorite Jennifer’s Body, written by Diablo Cody and released 15 years ago today. Rafaela Bassili, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2024 That includes, but is not limited to...actual humans, DMs, AI bots or succubus demons. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 19 July 2023 There are returning characters, like the elf and succubus couple who are now planning their wedding or the actual alien who is trying to fit in on Earth. Andrew Webster, The Verge, 20 Apr. 2023 Those who had hoped to fund their retirements by selling off their holdings of vintage Victorian poltergeist detectors and Edwardian succubus trackers may now have to dump their collections at fire-sale prices and retreat back to the relative security of municipal bonds. Joe Queenan, WSJ, 30 July 2022 In it, a succubus named Temptation (Cynthia Bond) pursues Joel (Bond III), a sheltered 21-year-old from the country who’s studying for the ministry, in hopes of corrupting him. Robert Daniels, Vulture, 28 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, alteration of Latin succuba paramour, from succubare to lie under, from sub- + cubare to lie, recline

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of succubus was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near succubus

Cite this Entry

“Succubus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/succubus. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

succubus

noun
suc·​cu·​bus ˈsək-yə-bəs How to pronounce succubus (audio)
plural succubi -ˌbī How to pronounce succubus (audio) -ˌbē How to pronounce succubus (audio)
: an imaginary demon assuming female form and formerly held to have sexual intercourse with men in their sleep compare incubus sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on succubus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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