noun

trichotillomania

trik-oh-til-oh-MAY-nee-uh

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Trichotillomania (noun) means a disorder in which someone feels a compulsive urge to pull out their own hair. Example: “Her trichotillomania meant she often pulled hair from her scalp without noticing.”

noun

medical A disorder in which someone feels a compulsive urge to pull out their own hair.

"Her trichotillomania meant she often pulled hair from her scalp without noticing."

"Doctors diagnosed him with trichotillomania after years of unexplained hair loss."

"Support groups help people manage their trichotillomania and reduce the urge to pull their hair."

How to use trichotillomania

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA compulsive urge to pull out your own hair.

When to use it

It is a clinical term, used mainly in medical and psychological contexts rather than everyday speech.

Memory tip

Break it into parts, tricho- for hair, tillo- for pulling, and -mania for compulsion, to remember what it means.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

trichomania

Common pairings

suffer from trichotillomania diagnosed with trichotillomania manage trichotillomania trichotillomania symptoms

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Her _____ meant she often pulled hair from her scalp without noticing.

Etymology

Trichotillomania combines the prefix tricho-, relating to hair, with the Ancient Greek verb tillo, meaning to pull out or pluck, and the suffix -mania. It is therefore a Greek-derived medical term describing a compulsion focused on hair.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Synonyms

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hair-pulling disorder

Rhymes for trichotillomania

Odia aria India Syria ataxia Latvia acacia Zambia LGBTQIA ectasia hryvnia begonia

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Frequently asked questions

What is trichotillomania?

Trichotillomania is a disorder in which a person feels a compulsive urge to pull out their own hair.

Is trichotillomania the same as trichomania?

No, trichomania refers to a mania for hair or hairiness in general, while trichotillomania is specifically the compulsive pulling of one's own hair.

Is there another name for trichotillomania?

Yes, it is also known as hair-pulling disorder.

What is the meaning of trichotillomania?

"trichotillomania" (noun) means a disorder in which someone feels a compulsive urge to pull out their own hair.