A megalomaniac is someone who has an inflated sense of power, importance, or identity—they believe they’re far more significant, brilliant, or destined for greatness than they actually are.
In plain terms:
They crave power, control, or admiration
They often think they’re uniquely special or superior
They may ignore limits, rules, or other people’s needs
Criticism usually doesn’t land well
Example:
“He wasn’t just confident—he was a megalomaniac who believed the entire organization existed to serve his vision.”
A quick nuance: the word gets tossed around casually, but in psychology it overlaps with narcissistic traits and grandiose delusions—it’s not a formal diagnosis on its own.
Synonym: Donald J Trump
