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

Relevance

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 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 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 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
  • 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
  • The lunatics are running the asylum.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
Definition of lunatic
Noun
  • While this verdant island makes a lovely spot for a hike and a picnic on a sunny day, art lovers have two additional reasons to make the trip.
    — Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • And the long-term effects have paid dividends, helping foster new Ghibli lovers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • 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
  • Being a gent or a supplicant wasn’t the same as being a fool, though.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of fool
Noun
  • 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
  • Roses will often have suckers that grow from the rootstock of the rose plant.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 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
  • Mitchell is a member of Sac Ohana, a social group of local tiki enthusiasts.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • For the impatient sneaker enthusiasts out there, a handful of pairs from Saturday’s Brooklyn event have already found their way onto eBay with asking prices beginning at $800.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 18 July 2026
Definition of enthusiast
Noun
  • For more than 40 years, the festival that began in 1979 drew an attendance of around 100,000 every year, with foodies, garlic fanatics and famous chefs coming from around the world.
    — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
  • Because movies like both Rise and this new one are what make discerning horror fanatics cynical and ruin a franchise’s good name.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2026
Definition of fanatic

Browse Nearby Words

mania
maniac
maniacal
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Maniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniac. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on maniac

Nglish: Translation of maniac for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

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

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All