megalomania

[ meg-uh-loh-mey-nee-uh ]

noun

1. Psychiatry. a symptom of mental illness marked by delusions of greatness, wealth, etc.
2. an obsession with doing extravagant or grand things.

megalomania

/ ˌmɛɡələʊməˈnaɪəkəl; ˌmɛɡələʊˈmeɪnɪə /

noun

1. a mental illness characterized by delusions of grandeur, power, wealth, etc
2. informal.
   a lust or craving for power

megalomania

1. Delusions of grandeur; an extreme form of egotism . Adolf Hitler is generally considered to have been a megalomaniac.

Derived Forms

• ˌmegaloˈmaniac, adjectivenoun
• megalomaniacal, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of megalomania¹

First recorded in 1885–90; megalo- + -mania

Example Sentences

Why didn't they hit the eject button sooner, as their leader descended further into his incoherent megalomania?

From Salon

Trump has always been a narcissist but it has now become full-blown megalomania.

From Salon

Some superstars hide their megalomania under humility; Williams shields his tenderness with jokes about being a narcissist, only exposing his wounds in his muscular, vulnerable lyrics.

From Los Angeles Times

He added: “Ultimately I knew it was Cannes’ setting — more than a match for his own megalomania — that would convince him to come.”

From Seattle Times

Earlier this week, Donald Trump took the next logical step in his fascist god complex and megalomania.

From Salon

Related Words

• arrogance
• egotism
• narcissism
• self-confidence
• selfishness