Word
incubus
Phoneticsin·cubus
US/ˈɪŋkjəbəs/
UK/ˈɪnkjuːbəs/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a male demon from old stories that visits people while they sleep. It is also used to describe a very bad dream or something that causes a lot of worry and stress.
n. a malevolent spirit traditionally believed to visit sleeping women; in a broader sense, a person or thing that oppresses or burdens like a nightmare.
Examples
“The stress of the debt became a constant incubus in his life.”
“In medieval folklore, the incubus was a terrifying figure blamed for sleep paralysis and unexplained night terrors.”
“The memory of his failure sat upon his chest like an incubus, preventing him from pursuing any new creative ventures for nearly a decade.”
Examples
simple
“The stress of the debt became a constant incubus in his life.”
contextual
“In medieval folklore, the incubus was a terrifying figure blamed for sleep paralysis and unexplained night terrors.”
complex
“The memory of his failure sat upon his chest like an incubus, preventing him from pursuing any new creative ventures for nearly a decade.”
Usage
The plural form is either 'incubi' or 'incubuses'.
Real-World Examples
“In medieval Europe, union with an incubus was supposed by some to result in the birth of witches, demons, and deformed human offspring.” “Incubus is Latin for night hag or nightmare.” “Reebok International Ltd. said Wednesday that it was considering ways to backtrack after finding that its Incubus shoe, released about a year ago, shared its name with the medieval creature that figured in literature and art.” 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”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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