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

It’s supposed to read as vulnerability, but it looks a lot like megalomania, surely the exact opposite of what Larraín intended.

From Time

Beethoven, of course, was no stranger to megalomania, and he even loved to brag to his friends about his vanity.

From The Daily Beast

This is not to suggest that Romney should aspire to megalomania of Newtonian proportions.

From The Daily Beast

As the race theory must inevitably lead to megalomania and reaction, so it must inevitably lead to militarism.

From Project Gutenberg

Even as race heresy must result in racial megalomania, it must result in political reaction and in the government of caste.

From Project Gutenberg

Of that megalomania the Kaiser has been, in innumerable speeches, the eloquent and insolent spokesman.

From Project Gutenberg

I went out of my mind, I had megalomania; but then I was cheerful, confident, and even happy; I was interesting and original.

From Project Gutenberg

What should be a generous, and in part altruistic, exaltation becomes mere megalomania.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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