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

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

Trump’s criminal trials are almost guaranteed to be a spectacle given his bombastic temperament, egomania and megalomania, mastery of stagecraft and propaganda, and what is in total a disagreeable personality that borders on the sociopathic if not psychopathic.

From Salon

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

From Salon

At the same time, I remain convinced that Trump’s megalomania — his growing radicalism, his frequent threats, his general odiousness — represents a path to electoral calamity in 2024 for the GOP.

From Salon

His desire to be America’s first dictator is as much a function of his megalomania and obsession with obtaining revenge against his “enemies” as it is an existential need, literally, to get ultimate power so that he can avoid being put in prison for the rest of his natural life.

From Salon

Related Words

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