pyromania

noun

py·​ro·​ma·​nia ˌpī-rō-ˈmā-nē-ə How to pronounce pyromania (audio)
-nyə
: an irresistible impulse to start fires

Examples of pyromania in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web After her exercise in pyromania, Serena stays with her mother. Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, 7 June 2019 And finding signs of past fire-lighting on tools used for other purposes may offer the best window into the origins of humanity's collective pyromania. Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, 26 July 2018 Best-selling author Margaret George has just published a novel repackaging the Roman emperor Nero, whose name has evoked mayhem and recreational pyromania for the past 2,000 years, as a misunderstood stripling. Joe Queenan, WSJ, 5 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pyromania.' 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- + -mania, probably after German Pyromanie or French pyromanie

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pyromania was circa 1842

Dictionary Entries Near pyromania

Cite this Entry

“Pyromania.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyromania. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pyromania

noun
py·​ro·​ma·​nia ˌpī-rō-ˈmā-nē-ə How to pronounce pyromania (audio)
: an abnormal continuous desire to start fires

Medical Definition

pyromania

noun
py·​ro·​ma·​nia ˌpī-rō-ˈmā-nē-ə, -nyə How to pronounce pyromania (audio)
: an irresistible impulse to start fires
pyromaniacal adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on pyromania

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