manic

adjective

man·​ic ˈma-nik How to pronounce manic (audio)
: affected with, relating to, characterized by, or resulting from mania
had a manic personality
his manic work pace
manic noun
manically adverb

Examples of manic in a Sentence

a manic sense of humor
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That confusion is further reflected by the manic hyper-subjectivity of Bronstein’s filmmaking, which boxes Linda into a close-up so tight that everything around her — especially her unnamed daughter, who almost never appears on screen — might as well be a disembodied echo of her own anxiety. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2025 All the signature Safdie manic energy perfectly infused with the GENERATIONAL CHARISMA of the prince who is promised. Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025 Social media spaces are increasingly closed and personalized; where random Twitter figures could bring their ideas to the president in 2018, now only the most manic — Loomer, the MAGA legal figure Mike Davis — cut through, and benefit. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025 Freiburghaus’ film follows his best friend through a year-long struggle with manic episodes. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for manic

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek manikós "mad, crazy," from manía "madness, frenzy, mania" + -ikos -ic entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1824, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of manic was circa 1824

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Cite this Entry

“Manic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manic. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

manic

1 of 2 adjective
man·​ic ˈman-ik How to pronounce manic (audio)
: affected with, relating to, or resembling mania
manically adverb

manic

2 of 2 noun
: an individual affected with mania

More from Merriam-Webster on manic

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