MANIAC Synonyms: 144 Similar and Opposite Words

maniac

noun

ˈmā-nē-ˌak

Definition of maniac

informal

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

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

Noun

Republicans see an opportunity here, portraying progressive and socialist Democrats as lunatics and communists.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
While sane Americans were celebrating the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, the lunatics in Portland, Oregon were cheering along as two men made out on a baseball field during a 'Heated Rivalry' theme night.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of lunatic

Noun

Milwaukee Public Library research and policy coordinator Joey McMahon added the library has been a staple for Milwaukee artists and music lovers for a long time.

— Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2026
The story follows Jaime, a former lover turned butler to Isabel, a wealthy Argentine woman.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 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

Their escapade leads not only to the creation of their island paradise, Moonrise Kingdom, but a humorous wild goose chase between Suzy’s parents, Sam’s Scout troop, and the island police chief.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026
At the exhibition’s entrance is a lamina, a part-goose, part-woman mask of Basque tradition, made by contemporary Owantshoozi studio designers.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of goose

Noun

Parton died after a brief battle with cancer, with her death triggering an outpouring of grief, from fellow Hollywood stars to everyday fans who attended makeshift memorials.

— Edward Segarra, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
Among the fans in Cottage Grove was 21-year-old Chloe Fadem, who arrived from Chicago gleefully sporting her own Keatonesque two-piece suit.

— Brian Bull, NPR, 3 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

Style

“Maniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniac. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of maniac

noun

Example Sentences

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