trichotillomania
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of trichotillomania
1900–05; tricho- + Greek tíll ( ein ) to pluck, pull out + -o- + -mania
Explanation
Trichotillomania is an obsessive, irresistible urge to pull out your own hair. It's a serious mental condition. Many psychological compulsions and conditions include the word mania, such as pyromania, which is a compulsion to set fires. Another is trichotillomania, a condition suffered by people who can't help pulling out their own hair. This goes way beyond the frustrated saying "I was pulling out my own hair!" This is a real mental-health problem that can cause serious behavior and appearance problems for the sufferers. Anyone who thinks they might have trichotillomania should consult a doctor.
Vocabulary lists containing trichotillomania
Psychological Conditions and Disorders
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Psychology
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He intends to make more videos about trichotillomania following a positive response to his decision to speak about his own experiences.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2026
These are made for people with alopecia, people having chemotherapy, people with trichotillomania - where they pull their own hair out through anxiety - and for the transgender community.
From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2023
The "Life & Beth" creator and star recently revealed that she has "trichotillomania."
From Fox News ● Mar. 25, 2022
Their lead compound, SXC-2023, has even progressed to phase II clinical testing, where it is being administered to patients with an impulse control disorder called trichotillomania, also known as the hair-pulling disorder.
From Scientific American ● Jan. 13, 2020
Pearson launched a support group and appeared on a Seattle news network, where she spoke about her life and gave her own phone number as a trichotillomania hotline.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 23, 2018
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
