pyromaniac
noun
py·ro·ma·ni·ac
ˌpī-rō-ˈmā-nē-ˌak 
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 firesJeremy AppelThe self-described pyromaniac said she is excited about the pellet fire pits that will frame the front entrance.—Sarah Self-Walbrick
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
Winston Groom
Examples of pyromaniac in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Your son is either smoking or is a pyro [pyromaniac].
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
These emaciated, ashy pyromaniacs are led by Varang (Oona Chaplin), giving Queen of the Damned body tea in her bloodred makeup and statement headpiece.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 July 2025
In nineteenth-century Europe, the typical pyromaniac was said to be a teenage girl with menstrual problems.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
And just like every year, many across Indiana are celebrating early — but is that legal?
Restrictions on Indiana's fireworks, to put it bluntly, are more lax than a pyromaniac in a room full of sparklers.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Lest anyone think that this is not a deliberate homage to the legend of rock pyromaniac Jerry Lee Lewis, the singer let out what sure sounded like a couple of wildcat Jerry Lee trills.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Apr. 2025
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
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Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Aug. 2025
These emaciated, ashy pyromaniacs are led by Varang (Oona Chaplin), giving Queen of the Damned body tea in her bloodred makeup and statement headpiece.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 July 2025
In nineteenth-century Europe, the typical pyromaniac was said to be a teenage girl with menstrual problems.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
And just like every year, many across Indiana are celebrating early — but is that legal?
Restrictions on Indiana's fireworks, to put it bluntly, are more lax than a pyromaniac in a room full of sparklers.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Lest anyone think that this is not a deliberate homage to the legend of rock pyromaniac Jerry Lee Lewis, the singer let out what sure sounded like a couple of wildcat Jerry Lee trills.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Apr. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Pyromaniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pyromaniac. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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