Spell Bee Word: megalomania

Basic Details

Word: Megalomania

Part of Speech: Noun

Meaning: A obsession with power and a belief that you are better or more important than others.

Synonyms: Delusions of grandeur, egotism, narcissism

Antonyms: Humility, modesty, selflessness

Idioms and Phrases

1. Big fish in a small pond: Refers to someone who is important or successful, but only in a limited context. Example: "At his small school, he was a big fish in a small pond, but in the city, he was just another student."
2. All hat and no cattle: Describes someone who talks a lot about their abilities or importance but doesn’t have the real achievements to back it up. Example: "He boasts about his wealth, but he’s just all hat and no cattle."

Usage Examples

Example 1: His megalomania made it difficult for others to work with him as he always believed he was the smartest in the room.

Example 2: The dictator's megalomania led to disastrous decisions that affected millions of people.

Example 3: People often mistook her confidence for megalomania, not realising she simply believed in her abilities.

Fun Fact

Megalomania comes from the Greek words "mega," meaning great, and "mania," which means madness or obsession. It has been used in psychology to describe a condition where someone has an inflated sense of self-importance or lives in a fantasy of power.

Famous Quote

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord Acton

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What does "megalomania" mean?

a) A love for nature
b) An obsession with power
c) A feeling of sadness
d) A desire for peace

Answer: b) An obsession with power

2. Which of these is a synonym of "megalomania"?

a) Modesty
b) Delusions of grandeur
c) Shyness
d) Kindness

Answer: b) Delusions of grandeur

3. Which word is an antonym of "megalomania"?

a) Egoism
b) Superiority
c) Humility
d) Arrogance

Answer: c) Humility

4. Which sentence uses "megalomania" correctly?

a) She showed megalomania by being very humble.
b) His megalomania made him think he could solve all the world's problems alone.
c) My megalomania is the best dessert in the world.
d) The flowers were in full bloom in megalomania.

Answer: b) His megalomania made him think he could solve all the world's problems alone.

5. Which idiom means someone talks a lot about their importance but lacks real achievements?

a) All hat and no cattle
b) Big fish in a small pond
c) A bird in the hand
d) Stuck between a rock and a hard place

Answer: a) All hat and no cattle