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
Change Halloween to the Fourth of July and a relentless maniac to a hungry shark, and Steven Spielberg's iconic blockbuster might as well be a seabound slasher.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Terror struck in the UK on Yom Kippur, when a maniac attacked people outside a Manchester synagogue, killing at least two and critically injuring four more.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Sure enough, the quiet is shattered when a new villain rolls into town in the form of Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), a chaotic, fashion-forward maniac with a personal vendetta and a flair for over-the-top drama.
—EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Produced by Latefox Pictures, High Rise Studio, and Chrono Visor Images, Death Cycle follows a woman grieving the death of her sister, who is visited by a man investigating a series of brutal murders committed by a motorcycle maniac.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniac
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
Terror struck in the UK on Yom Kippur, when a maniac attacked people outside a Manchester synagogue, killing at least two and critically injuring four more.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Sure enough, the quiet is shattered when a new villain rolls into town in the form of Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa), a chaotic, fashion-forward maniac with a personal vendetta and a flair for over-the-top drama.
—EW.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Produced by Latefox Pictures, High Rise Studio, and Chrono Visor Images, Death Cycle follows a woman grieving the death of her sister, who is visited by a man investigating a series of brutal murders committed by a motorcycle maniac.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniac
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniac
Noun
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The lunatics who attacked the seat of government to try to change the outcome of a free and fair election are not patriots.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
6 Jan. 2026
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Now, after Miami’s 34-10 win Sunday at the New York Jets, you are officially allowed to wonder aloud about wild-card playoff chances and be seen only as way optimistic rather than as a raving lunatic.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
7 Dec. 2025
Noun
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For the third year, restaurants in Hayward are enticing food lovers with the opportunity to save money while discovering new places and revisiting old favorites.—
Linda Zavoral,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Leigh Lucas’ book of poetry reckons with the death of a lover.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Do not let Fernando Mendoza’s earnestness fool you.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
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But telling Porsha something in confidence is a fool’s errand.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
As the humpback plunges back below the surface the remoras, also known as sucker fish, return to the whale, sticking their landings with the timing and precision of Olympic gymnasts.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Remove any canes that are crossing or rubbing against each other, as well as any suckers that have formed.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Foie gras — or fattened liver of a duck or goose — is a delicacy in French cooking that is occasionally featured on higher-end restaurants’ menus.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
30 Dec. 2025
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End-of-season closeout deals are up to 81% off, including comforters filled with goose feathers, gel fibers, silk, and more.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
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That, combined with a decisive second-half performance, represented the good in Sunday’s matchup, the part that may give fans hope about a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.—
Scott Chasen,
Kansas City Star,
10 Nov. 2025
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When Posa slammed Washington quarterback Demond Williams to the ground for a game-clincher on fourth-and-6, some 70,000 fans erupted as if thawed from a long freeze.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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With more than $2 million raised through crowdfunding, Zero Zero Robotics says AQUA has drawn strong interest from watersport enthusiasts looking for a more durable and flexible aerial filming tool.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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Try to plan your visit during the Dark Sky Festival, held annually in the late winter or early spring, to meet up with fellow stargazing enthusiasts and hear astronomy talks by park rangers.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Disney and Lucasfilm really went all out with this one, and Star Wars fanatics who aren’t strict purists won't find a better box set right now.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
28 Dec. 2025
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Virginia's capital city has something for every type of traveler—from history lovers and art fanatics to foodies and outdoorsy types.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniac. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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