1
as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
It was some surprise to see such chill person become a complete maniac when he got behind the wheel.
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2
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
I'm a maniac for anything flavored with peppermint
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Recent Examples of maniac
Instead of a Buffy-like television show, however, this one recreates a fictional slasher franchise called Camp Miasma, a typical homicidal-maniac-versus-horny-teens-in-the-woods series that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Friday the 13th movies.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
This maniac should be removed from office.
—CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maniac
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
This maniac should be removed from office.
—CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maniac
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniac
Noun
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The lunatics are running the asylum.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
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Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Michael Cera, Will Arnett and other lunatics round out the cast.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Itineraries guide food-lovers to Breyðvirkið, the Faroe Islands’ sole artisanal sourdough bakery, renowned for its exceptional coffee and its ‘BMO’ (bolle med ost), a classic Scandinavian breakfast of a fresh sourdough bun with butter and cheese.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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These thin sheets of lead containing scratches of supernatural desires were used to sway a court case, target a rival, or even a lover, as per Archaeology News.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
Noun
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Don’t let the cream’s $8 price tag fool you; the anti-aging find tackles fine lines, wrinkles, and clogged pores, all while being gentle enough for all skin types.—
Isabel Bekele,
InStyle,
21 June 2026
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This is an ignoble war making monsters and fools out of its participants, and against the uncontrollable weapons that are dragons, everyone’s resolve is crumbling.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Good choices include live sunfish, suckers, bullheads, carp, goldfish, and chubs.—
Keith Sutton,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
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Southerners are suckers for cities on the water, and the charming community of Stuart, Florida, is abundantly blessed on that front.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Each morning, the city's street-flusher truck cleans goose droppings from the riverfront concrete walkway, but officials said the equipment cannot remove droppings left on grassy areas.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
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Was there pressure on you as this goose whose golden eggs were all going to Apple?—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Still, despite the squad’s positivity, the match triggered a lot of bad memories in the minds of Spain fans everywhere ahead of what many thought could be an excellent chance to earn the nation’s second World Cup.—
Patrick Sung Cuadrado,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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Eftekhari worries that the mood at Iran’s first match, where fans and protesters clashed, affected the players.—
Gabriela Aoun Angueira,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
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Amateur and professional motor enthusiasts alike will replace the stock rotors with high-performing, aftermarket rotors to improve the stopping power of their cars.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
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Driving the length of Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles is a memorable experience for many road trip enthusiasts.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Never fear, San Antonio fanatics, there’s something in the auction for you, too.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
22 June 2026
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The revolutionary fanatics running the Islamic regime aren’t interested in the welfare of the Iranian public, who were mowed down by the thousands when protesters took the streets seeking freedom.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniac. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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