monomania

noun mono·ma·nia \ ˌmä-nə-ˈmā-nē-ə , -nyə \

Definition of monomania

1 : mental illness especially when limited in expression to one idea or area of thought

2 : excessive concentration on a single object or idea

—

monomaniac

play \-nē-ˌak\ noun or adjective

—

monomaniacal

play \-mə-ˈnī-ə-kəl\ adjective

—

monomaniacally

play \-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Recent Examples of monomania from the Web

Fischer’s defiant monomania already had many worried during his adolescence.

— ann hulbert, Time, "What Parents Can Learn From Steve Jobs and Bill Gates About Raising a Prodigy," 10 Jan. 2018
Thank You for Being Late offers invaluable, if perhaps inadvertent, insight into the technologists’ cold monomania.

— justin peters, Slate Magazine, "Tom Friedman’s oracular pretensions have never felt more ridiculous than they do in his latest best-seller.," 17 Jan. 2017
The user @ProTrump45 is gone, for now, but Trump’s tweet, which contains a blank space where Nicole’s message would be, remains a monument to his monomania.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "Trump Falls for His Own Propaganda Machine," 8 Aug. 2017
Mayer means it as trash-talk—but that kind of monomania may be necessary to primary a president.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "The G.O.P. Race to Primary Trump Has Already Begun," 5 Apr. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'monomania.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of monomania

New Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1815

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

Medical Dictionary

monomania

noun mono·ma·nia \ ˌmän-ə-ˈmā-nē-ə, -nyə \

medical Definition of monomania

: mental illness especially when limited in expression to one idea or area of thought

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up monomania? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

monomania

Definition of monomania

monomaniac

monomaniacal

monomaniacally

Recent Examples of monomania from the Web

Origin and Etymology of monomania

Other Psychology Terms

Medical Dictionary

monomania

medical Definition of monomania

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

remuneration

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

'Versus' vs. 'Verses'

Measure for Measure: The Language of Measuring

'Draft' vs. 'Draught'

'Punchable': A Story of Money, Sex, and Violence

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Words of the Year: 1066

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Name that Thing: Flower Edition

April 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Spell It

SCRABBLE® Sprint

'Versus' vs. 'Verses'

7 Words Based on Units of Measure

Name that Thing: Flower Edition

Trending: Janelle Monáe Out as 'Pansexual'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

monomania

Definition of monomania

monomaniac

monomaniacal

monomaniacally

Recent Examples of monomania from the Web

Origin and Etymology of monomania

Other Psychology Terms

Medical Dictionary

monomania

medical Definition of monomania

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Versus' vs. 'Verses'

7 Words Based on Units of Measure

Name that Thing: Flower Edition

Trending: Janelle Monáe Out as 'Pansexual'

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes