pyromaniac

noun

py·​ro·​ma·​ni·​ac ˌpī-rō-ˈmā-nē-ˌak How to pronounce pyromaniac (audio)
plural pyromaniacs
: a person who has an uncontrollable impulse to start fires : a person affected by pyromania
A psychological assessment commissioned by the defence came to the conclusion that Schalm was not a pyromaniac, nor was he bipolar, making the risk of recidivism minimal.Jeremy Appel
sometimes used in an exaggerated or joking way to refer to a person who enjoys fires
The self-described pyromaniac said she is excited about the pellet fire pits that will frame the front entrance.Sarah Self-Walbrick
pyromaniacal adjective
… his earliest pyromaniacal urges … seem to have developed in 1862 … Sherman ordered the torching of all towns, villages, farms and homes for 15 miles up and down the river. Winston Groom

Examples of pyromaniac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Remember their names On Wednesday, California’s 12 GOP House members put tribal loyalty above the country’s best interests and heedlessly cast their votes to make Jim Jordan — election denier, Jan. 6 instigator, political pyromaniac — the next House speaker. Laurel Rosenhall, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2023 On Tuesday, 11 of California’s 12 GOP House members put tribal loyalty above the country’s best interests and heedlessly cast their votes to make Jim Jordan — election denier, Jan. 6 instigator, political pyromaniac — the next House speaker. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2023 Urban pyromaniac? Gaia Squarci, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Sep. 2020 Until now, little has been disclosed about the show’s version of the dark side characters, though recently EW revealed that King’s crazed pyromaniac Trashcan Man would be played by Erza Miller (Fantastic Beasts 3). James Hibberd, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2020 Or try the pyromaniac method of browning your topping: crumble it directly onto the cooked fruit, then use a pair of tongs to pick up a medium-sized ember and hold it an inch or two above your cobbler to brown the topping. Outside Online, 17 Nov. 2020 Mummy star Brendan Fraser is reportedly joining as the pyromaniac supervillain Firefly, Deadline reported in October. ELLE, 16 Jan. 2022 This mysterious pyromaniac began by setting potato chips ablaze but ended up burning down neighborhoods and murdering four people with his flames. Vulture Editors, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2021 All Access limited series for months, perhaps in the role of the pyromaniac Trashcan Man. James Hibberd, EW.com, 24 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pyromaniac.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

pyro- + maniac entry 1, after pyromania

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pyromaniac was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near pyromaniac

Cite this Entry

“Pyromaniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyromaniac. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pyromaniac

noun
py·​ro·​ma·​ni·​ac
-ˌak
: a person who exhibits pyromania

Medical Definition

pyromaniac

noun
py·​ro·​ma·​ni·​ac -nē-ˌak How to pronounce pyromaniac (audio)
: an individual affected with pyromania

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