monomania

[ mon-uh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh ]

noun

1. (no longer in technical use) a psychosis characterized by thoughts confined to one idea or group of ideas.
2. an inordinate or obsessive zeal for or interest in a single thing, idea, subject, or the like.

monomania

/ ˌmɒnəʊməˈnaɪəkəl; ˌmɒnəʊˈmeɪnɪə /

noun

1. an excessive mental preoccupation with one thing, idea, etc

Derived Forms

• monomaniacal, adjective
• ˌmonoˈmaniˌac, nounadjective

Other Words From

• mon·o·ma·ni·ac [mon-, uh, -, mey, -nee-ak], noun
• mon·o·ma·ni·a·cal [mon-, uh, -m, uh, -, nahy, -, uh, -k, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monomania¹

From New Latin, dating back to 1815–25; mono-, -mania

Example Sentences

It turns out you can pay a lot for the privilege of real-time “re-enactments,” and he does, commissioning a series of increasingly elaborate set pieces whose pursuit soon curdles into monomania.

From New York Times

But Schiff feels uneasy with his suspicious monomania that rejected any “peace and quiet” in governance.

From Washington Post

Some of her points are tongue-in-cheek — “When in doubt spray-paint it gold” — while others are universal: “Fight monomania,” and “Wake up early, fear death.”

From New York Times

His state senate Republican colleagues, weary of his hair-on-fire approach to advocating his monomania, removed him as chair of the pertinent committee.

From Washington Post

But it also has something to do with the 59-year-old Cruise’s close stewardship of his own superhuman image, a commitment that speaks to his talent as well as his monomania.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• craving
• craze
• craziness
• enthusiasm
• fad
• fascination
• frenzy
• infatuation
• lunacy
• obsession
• passion
• rage