megalomania

noun

meg·​a·​lo·​ma·​nia ˌme-gə-lō-ˈmā-nē-ə 

-nyə

1

: a mania (see mania sense 2a) for great or grandiose performance

… an outburst of wildly extravagant commercial megalomania …

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2

: a delusional mental illness that is marked by feelings of personal omnipotence and grandeur

megalomaniac

ˌme-gə-lō-ˈmā-nē-ˌak 

adjective or noun

megalomaniacal

ˌme-gə-lō-mə-ˈnī-ə-kəl 

adjective

or less commonly megalomanic

ˌme-gə-lō-ˈma-nik 

megalomaniacally

ˌme-gə-lō-mə-ˈnī-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of megalomania in a Sentence

Their CEO has an arrogance that borders on megalomania.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sadly, Trump’s inability to forgo immediate fulfillment is as pronounced an aspect of his personality as his megalomania. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026

This is about the corruption and megalomania of one person. — Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026

This is about the corruption and megalomania of one person. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 June 2026

The Man From Colorado is a dissection of the effects of PTSD (both on the part of soldiers and their families), a satire of megalomania, and a crackling thriller. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

megalo- + -mania, after German Megalomanie or French mégalomanie

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for megalomania

• collectanea
• hypomania
• miscellanea
• monomania
• leishmania
• urania
• mania
• taenia

Medical Definition

megalomania

noun

meg·​a·​lo·​ma·​nia ˌmeg-ə-lō-ˈmā-nē-ə, -nyə 

: a delusional mental illness that is marked by feelings of personal omnipotence and grandeur