Sexual relations between close relatives, especially immediate family members and sometimes first cousins, usually considered taboo.
Used in a Sentence
incest
Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for incest.
Editorial note
The case against incest can be made on that base when eugenics are re-established and codified into law.
Examples17
Definitions3
Parts of speech2
Quick take
Sexual relations between close relatives, especially immediate family members and sometimes first cousins, usually considered taboo.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of incest gathered in one view.
(loosely) Romantic relationships between close relatives, also widely taboo.
(ambitransitive) To engage in incestuous sexual activities.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for incest.
noun
Sexual relations between close relatives, especially immediate family members and sometimes first cousins, usually considered taboo.
noun
(loosely) Romantic relationships between close relatives, also widely taboo.
verb
(ambitransitive) To engage in incestuous sexual activities.
Example sentences
The case against incest can be made on that base when eugenics are re-established and codified into law.
If you don't think changing marriage laws affects behavior, shouldn't that apply to incest as well?
Just tone down the incest in further stories about Oedipus and the gang and you're set!
As an aside, my girlfriend just pointed out to me that it is hard to justify laws against incest (two adult relatives).
The other argument against incest is to protect vulnerable people from abusive adults.
He was replying to someone attempting to equate pedophilia and incest with homosexuality.
Conversely, if greater risk isn't enough of a constitutional reason to allow bans on gay marriage, why is it enough to make incest bans constitutional?
The main argument against incest that I know of pertains to recessive genetic diseases.
Are there any other reasons why incest is considered bad?
Polygamy was also considered wrong, as was incest, marrying children, bestiality, and probably some other things that I'm forgetting.
Agism isn't nearly as evident as cronyism and incest.
Feels like some kind of repressed incest vibe.
Quote examples
Polygamy & Incest We haven't slid to "adult-adult marriage" yet until the above are legalized across the board.
I would try to look up the reference but I don't want to do a search for "legal incest New Jersey" on my work computer.
Other more benign forms of eugenics like incest taboo or selecting your sexual partners are not just acceptable, they are often not even seen as eugenics, because eugenics is "that bad thing the Nazis did".
The primary reason why incest is bad is because of the genetic damage caused by it; eliminate that problem (by preventing the possibility of said damage), and there's not really that much of a reason left to forbid it (other than a potential "ick" factor, but that's mostly subjective).
Proper noun examples
Incest is legal in France since 1810 - and the new law from 2010 that seem to forbid it really doesn't.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use incest in a sentence?
The case against incest can be made on that base when eugenics are re-established and codified into law.
What does incest mean?
Sexual relations between close relatives, especially immediate family members and sometimes first cousins, usually considered taboo.
What part of speech is incest?
incest is commonly used as noun, verb.