What does "incubus" mean?
An evil spirit supposed to oppress people while asleep, especially to have sex with women as they sleep.
Incubus
/ˈɪŋ.kjʊ.bəs/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An evil spirit supposed to oppress people while asleep, especially to have sex with women as they sleep.
- Grammar: incubus is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: nightmare, abomination, afreet, baba yaga.
- Useful contrasts: angel, calm sleep, good spirit.
- Usage evidence: it increaseth fearful dreams, incubus, night-walking, crying out, and much unquietness […] .
How to use "incubus"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "incubus" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "incubus" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "incubus" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "incubus" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "incubus" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "nightmare" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "incubus", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An evil spirit supposed to oppress people while asleep, especially to have sex with women as they sleep.
- 2 a male demon believed to lie on sleeping persons and to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women wordnet
- 3 A feeling of oppression during sleep, sleep paralysis; night terrors, a nightmare.
"it increaseth fearful dreams, incubus, night-walking, crying out, and much unquietness […] ."
- 4 someone who depresses or worries others wordnet
- 5 Any oppressive thing or person; a burden. broadly
"Again he felt the impulse of flight: but his body was a dry dead incubus that refused to obey his volition."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 a situation resembling a terrifying dream wordnet
- 7 One of various of parasitic insects, especially subfamily Aphidiinae.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"it increaseth fearful dreams, incubus, night-walking, crying out, and much unquietness […] ."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "incubus"?
Common synonyms include: nightmare, abomination, afreet, baba yaga, bad dream, bale.
How do you use "incubus" in a sentence?
it increaseth fearful dreams, incubus, night-walking, crying out, and much unquietness […] .
How do you pronounce "incubus"?
Pronounced /ˈɪŋ.kjʊ.bəs/.
Etymology
From Late Latin incubus, from Latin incubō (“nightmare, one who lies down on the sleeper”), from incubō (“to lie upon, to hatch”, from in- (“on”) + cubō (“to lie down”)).