maniac

noun

ˈmā-nē-ˌak How to pronounce maniac (audio)
Definition of maniacnext
informal
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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something I'm a maniac for anything flavored with peppermint

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of maniac The Martin Lawrence vehicle Martin, which ran for five glorious seasons, offered a terrific platform for Lawrence to run around like a maniac as an energetic radio DJ. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026 Plus, people drove like maniacs in the parking lot, especially on weekends and around holidays. — Literary Hub, 5 June 2026 Donald also had a reputation for being a maniac about taking care of his body and staying in shape. — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026 Ben Rice waved his arms like a maniac on the on-deck circle. — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 24 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for maniac
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniac
  1. lunatic
  2. lover
  3. fool
  4. sucker
  5. goose
  6. fan
  7. enthusiast
  8. fanatic
Noun
  • In fact, a lunatic in Houston couldn't wait more than one game before sprinting onto the field.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Republicans see an opportunity here, portraying progressive and socialist Democrats as lunatics and communists.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of lunatic
Noun
  • This is maybe one that a true pickle lover looking to experiment would really enjoy.
    — Bianca Harris, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • At the same time, in my experience, younger viewers today are far better film lovers than older ones.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • Set the scene Upon entering, don't let the grandiose, atrium-esque, white-marbled lobby fool you into thinking there's an ounce of formality or stuffiness here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Anhor The Great had so many pass breakups that counting would’ve been a fool’s errand.
    — Caleb Otte, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of fool
Noun
  • Daughter of a travel agent and a sucker for a challenge, Nina can’t resist the call to adventures everywhere from the Midwest to Antarctica.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • DuBose questions the allegation that Fields’ sucker-punched his teammate.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • Karyann Parkinson's son, Samuel, likes to collect goose feathers.
    — Mark Strassmann, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Big Ten consistency, SEC chaos What’s interesting, though, is that the disruptors might be killing their own shot at their very own golden goose.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of goose
Noun
  • The effect of inaction is especially acute among committed fans, as shown by Knight Foundation polling last year.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • This week the reader taking part is Ade, a Forest fan from Nottingham.
    — Duncan Alexander, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of fan
Noun
  • And while that contest ended well more than a decade ago, this hasn’t stopped Lu and other crypto enthusiasts from trying to factor the remaining uncracked numbers, including RSA-260.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 4 Sep. 2026
  • So when Trader Joe’s dropped a similar formula at a fraction of the cost, skincare enthusiasts went into a bit of a frenzy.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of enthusiast
Noun
  • Well ahead of the game's launch, Wizards of the Coast is betting big on the IP, with tabletop adventures, novels, and a Secret Level short introducing RPG fanatics to its universe.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • That’s good news for autumnal fanatics, as this foliage-rich route—lined with maples, oaks, birches, and more—becomes postcard-perfect each October.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of fanatic

Browse Nearby Words

mania
maniac
maniacal
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Cite this Entry

“Maniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniac. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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