megalomaniac

C2 Topic:Describing People
US /ˌmɛɡəloʊˈmeɪniæk/ UK /ˌmeɡələˈmeɪniæk/
noun adj Freq #43711

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    a person obsessed with power or convinced of their own exceptional greatness and importance

    The novel's ruler is a megalomaniac who demands monuments in every city.

  2. 2
    adj

    showing an obsessive desire for power or an exaggerated belief in one's own importance

    His megalomaniac plan placed the entire organization under his personal control.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · a person obsessed with... egotistpower seekernarcissist
2 adj · showing an obsessive desire... grandiosepower-madegotistical
Word family
Derived forms megalomaniacalmegalomaniacally
Related forms megalomaniagrandiositynarcissismdelusion of grandeur

Etymology

Formed from megalomania + -ac. Megalomania combines Greek megas, stem megal- ("great"), with mania ("madness, frenzy"), naming an exaggerated belief in one's greatness or power.

Topics

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