It was apparent to all but himself that what was once idle curiosity had become a monomania.
Source: wiktionary
Monomania
/ˌmɒnəʊˈmeɪnɪə/
Synonyms for "monomania" (44 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (9)
absorbed attentionabsorptionapplicationcomplexcompulsionconcentrationcontemplationdeep studydeep thought
Strong matches (13)
engagementengrossmentfanaticismfascinationfixationfixed ideahang uphang-uphypercathexisidee fixeimmersionintentness
Noun(1 words)
Related words (22)
involvementirresistible impulsemeditationmorbid driveobsessionobsessive compulsionpossessionpreoccupationprepossessionprofound thoughtrapt attentionruling passionsingle-mindednessstudiousnessstudysubmersionticzealotry
Noun(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: absorbed attention, absorption, application, complex, compulsion.
- Sentence evidence is available for monomania, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "monomania".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "monomania"
Keep "monomania" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "monomania" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "monomania", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "monomania" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
4 entriesone topic fixationpolitical fixationtheological fixationtopic fixation
Collocations
6 entriesacademic monomaniaclinical monomaniamonomania for detailmonomania for theorymonomania in psychiatrysingle topic monomania
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesSample sentences
2 total sentences available.
“There are no limits to the possibilities of monomania,” I answered. “There is the condition which the modern French psychologists have called the ‘idée fixe,’ which may be trifling in character, and accompanied by complete sanity in every other way. A man who had read deeply about Napoleon, or who had possibly received some hereditary family injury through the great war, might conceivably form such an ‘idée fixe’ and under its influence be capable of any fantastic outrage.”
Source: wiktionary
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "monomania"?
Closest matches include absorbed attention, absorption, application, complex, compulsion.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "monomania"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.