oedipal

American

[ed-uh-puhl, ee-duh-] / ˈɛd ə pəl, ˈi də- /

adjective

(often initial capital letter)

of, characterized by, or resulting from the Oedipus complex.

Etymology

Origin of oedipal

First recorded in 1935–40; Oedip(us complex) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It was oedipal rebellion against the father in his own house.

From Salon • May 16, 2022

At no time during director Peyton Reed’s concoction does a viewer feel he’s not being played by a movie that’s equal parts revenge tale, redemptive parable, apocalyptic thriller and cornucopia of oedipal clichés.

From Time • Jul. 14, 2015

M is an imperious, subtly oedipal intelligence-matriarch with the double-O boys under her thumb.

From New York Times • Nov. 8, 2012

And was it a steely act of oedipal severance?

From The Guardian • Jun. 11, 2010

In accordance with the psychoanalytic model, family members were oral, anal, oedipal, latent, homosexual, adolescent, heterosexual, and/or mature.

From Humanistic Nursing by Paterson, Josephine G.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023