# incubus

/ˈɪŋkjəbəs/ (US) · /ˈɪnkjuːbəs/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/incubus
Updated: 2026-10-08

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Synonyms

nightmare

## Usage notes

- The plural form is either 'incubi' or 'incubuses'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.