pyromania

[pahy-ruh-mey-nee-uh, -meyn-yuh]

noun

1. a compulsion to set things on fire.

pyromania

/ ˌpaɪrəʊˈmeɪnɪə, ˌpaɪrəʊməˈnaɪəkəl /

noun

1. psychiatry the uncontrollable impulse and practice of setting things on fire

pyromania

1. An uncontrollable urge to set fires.

Other Word Forms

• pyromaniac noun
• pyromaniacal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyromania¹

First recorded in 1835–45; pyro- + -mania

Example Sentences

Studies have found that less than 10% of adults who start fires meet the criteria for pyromania.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“The political pyromania of this moment that we see coming out of Washington right now,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“You were gazing into that fire like you wanted to eat it or something. I have a cousin who for real struggles with pyromania, so I’ve seen that look before.”

Read more on Literature

It’s a testament to Yeun’s commitment that Ben’s veneer of disquieting swagger never breaks: he yawns, laughs, speaks, smokes, shakes hands, and discloses his casual pyromania all with the same air of arrogant self-possession.

Read more on The Guardian

This is not politics as usual; it is political pyromania.

Read more on Washington Post

Related Words

• torching www.thesaurus.com