Munchausen syndrome
noun
Mun·chau·sen syndrome
ˈmən-ˌchau̇-zən- 
ˌmən-ˈchau̇-
variants
or Munchausen's syndrome
ˈmən-ˌchau̇-zənz-
ˌmən-ˈchau̇-
: a psychological disorder characterized by the intentional feigning, exaggeration, or induction of the symptoms of a disease or injury in order to undergo diagnostic tests, hospitalization, or medical or surgical treatment : factitious disorder imposed on self compare munchausen syndrome by proxy
Examples of Munchausen syndrome in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Take Care of Maya When Maya Kowalski's mother requested ketamine treatment to help ease the pain of her daughter's rare neurological condition, the staff wrongly accused her of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
—
Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Others, like Beal City superintendent Bill Chillman, believe that the text messages were an odd manifestation of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
To hint at only a few of the head-scratching biographical oddities of Asher’s lives: His father was the physician responsible for identifying and naming Munchausen syndrome.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
While medical child abuse, also known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, is a real thing, Gasser’s attorney said that was not the case in her situation.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for Munchausen syndrome
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Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Others, like Beal City superintendent Bill Chillman, believe that the text messages were an odd manifestation of Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
To hint at only a few of the head-scratching biographical oddities of Asher’s lives: His father was the physician responsible for identifying and naming Munchausen syndrome.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
While medical child abuse, also known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy, is a real thing, Gasser’s attorney said that was not the case in her situation.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for Munchausen syndrome
Cite this Entry
“Munchausen syndrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Munchausen%20syndrome. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Munchausen syndrome
noun
Mun·chau·sen syndrome
ˈmən-ˌchau̇-zən-
variants
or Munchausen's syndrome
: a psychological disorder characterized by the intentional feigning, exaggeration, or induction of the symptoms of a disease or injury in order to undergo diagnostic tests, hospitalization, or medical or surgical treatment : factitious disorder imposed on self compare munchausen syndrome by proxy
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