plural manias
1
: mental illness in which a person becomes very emotional or excited
She would typically experience a period of mania and then suddenly become deeply depressed.
patients affected by manias
2
: extreme enthusiasm for something that is usually shared by many people
—usually singular
The band was part of the early rock-and-roll mania. [=craze]
The city's sports mania is very well-known.
—often + forHe had a mania for cleanliness.
The entire city has been gripped by baseball mania.
Cite this Entry
“Mania.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/mania. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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