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
There’s also some pro forma mother-daughter conflict, the possibility of the return of a maniac of yore and a modern twist in the gag.
—
Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
Many Americans believe White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland-security adviser Stephen Miller is a cruel, ruthless maniac intent on turning the country into an authoritarian ethno-state.
—John Ficarra, Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026
However, unexpected and decidedly unwelcome guests keep turning up, including Beau’s brother, and a man who might be a homicidal maniac.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Maybe civil war could’ve been avoided this time around, too, had Xander not been such an anti-ghoul maniac.
—Jack King, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniac
Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
Many Americans believe White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland-security adviser Stephen Miller is a cruel, ruthless maniac intent on turning the country into an authoritarian ethno-state.
—John Ficarra, Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026
However, unexpected and decidedly unwelcome guests keep turning up, including Beau’s brother, and a man who might be a homicidal maniac.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Maybe civil war could’ve been avoided this time around, too, had Xander not been such an anti-ghoul maniac.
—Jack King, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniac
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniac
Noun
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Mark Hamill has been a lunatic for years now.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
To get a sentence like that in a communist, radically left-wing city of liberal lunatics is truly amazing.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But a pandemic-era program is helping to keep it afloat as inflation worsens, while also aiming to create a new generation of seafood lovers.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
23 May 2026
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Our country may be heading into tougher economic times, but these music lovers plan to face them with brand new BottleRock hats on their heads, glasses of merlot in their hands and earfuls of the Backstreet Boys and Slightly Stoopid.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Noun
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Trying to control such speech or sanitize any possibility of offense, disagreement, or discomfort, will be a fool’s errand in a diverse democracy.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
The king, the fool — there are so many parallels for me.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2026
Noun
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Democratic states have typically done this, but now that’s a sucker’s game.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
15 May 2026
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That makes students who play by the rules feel like suckers.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2026
Noun
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One of the most classic designs is from Union Products, which makes a nearly-2-foot-tall goose that’s perfect for porches, patios, gardens, and entryways.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 May 2026
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Some shaggy buffalo drowsed in a patch of shade, and a hose fed water into a large puddle where a white goose paddled in tight circles.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Noun
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To no one’s surprise, Nebraska fans have packed Charles Schwab Field as the Cornhuskers (42-15) attempted to win their third consecutive Big Ten Tournament.—
Jack Vita,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
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Before the race was set to begin on Friday evening, teams and fans held a moment of silence for Busch.—
Matt Reigle,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
About fifteen years ago, a couple of truck-enthusiast friends of mine took it upon themselves to drive the length of it, some sixty miles.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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In a trailer for a new documentary about the his years in Rome, Leone a Roma, eagle-eyed sneaker enthusiasts were able to spot the pope's unconventional footwear choice.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Noun
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For both Milne and Dermody, long-time Eurovision fanatics who have traveled to Vienna, the contest is somewhat diminished this year.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
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The chance to work with Alexandre, who dissects cinema with the precision of a detective and the passion of a fanatic, is irresistible.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniac. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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