megalomania

American  

[meg-uh-loh-mey-nee-uh] / ˌmɛg ə loʊˈmeɪ ni ə /

noun

1. Psychiatry. a symptom of mental illness marked by delusions of greatness, wealth, etc.

2. an obsession with doing extravagant or grand things.

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megalomania British  

/ ˌmɛɡələʊməˈnaɪəkəl, ˌmɛɡələʊˈmeɪnɪə /

noun

1. a mental illness characterized by delusions of grandeur, power, wealth, etc

2. informal a lust or craving for power

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megalomania Cultural  

1. Delusions of grandeur; an extreme form of egotism. Adolf Hitler is generally considered to have been a megalomaniac.

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Other Word Forms

• megalomaniac adjective
• megalomaniacal adjective

Etymology

Origin of megalomania

First recorded in 1885–90; megalo- + -mania

Explanation

Megalomania is a crazy hunger for power and wealth, and a passion for grand schemes. Comic book villains often suffer from megalomania. Their plans are thwarted only by superheroes. Megalomania comes from the Greek megas ("great") and mania ("madness"). It is a madness of greatness, but not a great kind of madness! Megalomaniacs in history include Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Napoleon Bonaparte. People with megalomania tend to exaggerate their virtues and never see their faults.

Example Sentences

The story relates Laxman’s making as a demagogue, dwelling on the years in which he used his extended family as a kind of training ground for his megalomania.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

Some superstars hide their megalomania under humility; Williams shields his tenderness with jokes about being a narcissist, only exposing his wounds in his muscular, vulnerable lyrics.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2024

He added: “Ultimately I knew it was Cannes’ setting — more than a match for his own megalomania — that would convince him to come.”

From Seattle Times • May 15, 2024

It’s early days, and it shows: Microsoft’s chatty new Bing beta recently creeped out a New York Times reporter with its megalomania and amorous advances.

From Slate • Mar. 1, 2023

Fortunately for England, his nature was too restless and domineering to admit of the necessary concentration of effort on the naval problem; and that besetting sin, megalomania, marred prospects which then seemed easily realizable.

From William Pitt and the Great War by Rose, John Holland

Related Words

• arrogance
• egotism
• narcissism
• self-confidence
• selfishness