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

Relevance

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 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 Trayce Gigi Field, who did the costumes, is an all-star and a maniac with her work ethic, dealing with this. — Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for maniac

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniac

Noun

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
As a Spurs fan, I was particularly invested in Campbell in an England shirt and recall charging around the living room like a lunatic before the reality that it had been chalked off hit home.

— The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 18 June 2026

Definition of lunatic

Noun

Projecting how a college quarterback will pan out often proves a fool’s errand, despite how many people have dedicated their livelihoods to trying.

— Antonio Morales, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Don’t let the thin sole fool you though, the structure is still quite supportive and keeps your feet cushioned.

— Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026

Definition of fool

Noun

Locate the Suckers Before you get started, find the plant’s main stems, which will have many secondary shoots or leaves, called suckers, growing off of them.

— Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 18 July 2026
And to die would have been a sucker’s dream, but this is a skull game chump and the past cannot help no man.

— Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026

Definition of sucker

Noun

The shows featured a continuous storyline surrounding her string of black pearls being lost and found, sending her on a goose chase that began with The Nanny and continued into Can’t Hurry Love, Murphy Brown and High Society.

— Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026
Critics see further expansion as risking the life of the goose that lays golden eggs.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of goose

Noun

The film reviewing account has lent itself to Charli’s overt styling of herself as an arbiter of taste and an unabashed fan of pop culture.

— Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
Rangers fans will love reading a book written by a man who knows as much about this team as anybody, including Tom Grieve, current broadcaster Eric Nadel and former PR man John Blake.

— Mac Engel July 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026

Definition of fan

Noun

Inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center during Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week, Capital One made a big play for sports enthusiasts and loyal cardholders.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 25 July 2026
That doesn’t mean blue-eyed beauty enthusiasts are limited to autumnal hues, however.

— Chloe Burcham, Vogue, 24 July 2026

Definition of enthusiast

Noun

The Northernmost Tree For now, most commercial breadfruit groves are still setting root, leaving the growing to the same type of people who once introduced it to the region — the plant fanatics.

— Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
Democrats, whose brand is viewed as too left-wing in five out of six Senate-battleground states, should be similarly wary of fanatics trying to infiltrate their ranks.

— James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026

Definition of fanatic

Browse Nearby Words

mania

maniac

maniacal

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Maniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniac. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of maniac

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on maniac

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

kludge

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes