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 Mantzoukas was willing to look like a maniac and a moron in equal measure. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 June 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for maniac

Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniac

Noun

The show will serve as a platform for countless lunatics within the InfoWars universe and a platform for larger announcements about the company’s fictional exploits.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
Rabin was killed [in 1995], that was a last straw —seeing an extremist right-wing lunatic in Israel kill Rabin and kill the dreams of peace.

— Shirley Halperin, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of lunatic

Noun

Now comes Netflix’s spin on the romantic comedy to end all romantic comedies, starring Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden as the characters at the center of literature’s original enemies-to-lovers trope.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026
While the drinks at Bastia, which are riffs on classic aperitivos and Italian-leaning cocktails, are excellent, cocktail lovers should pay a visit to Caletta, the hotel’s intimate 24-seat cocktail lounge.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of lover

Noun

Watching with the hope that anything serious will ever shift for the central characters is a fool’s errand.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Halloween is treated as his blind spot, the day each year this Socrates of the gang makes a fool of himself and misses out on treats.

— Colin Fleming, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of fool

Noun

How could anyone in the military support a repulsive, draft-dodging coward who called dead soldiers suckers and losers?

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 30 Oct. 2026
The theory seems to be that there will always be another crop of suckers willing to pump money into the ecosystem, so the market will provide.

— Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of sucker

Noun

Other attractions include the Karen Blixen Museum (for Out of Africa fans) and shopping.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
But even those fans of her socially clumsy and feverishly party-planning mayor’s assistant Patricia on that series may not be prepared for her soulful, wrenching work in Mike Leigh’s latest film.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of fan

Noun

The blog got picked up by a larger Brooklyn real estate website, Brownstoner, and developed a dedicated online following of architecture enthusiasts and aspiring DIYers.

— Sophie Caldwell,Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Egyptology enthusiasts and other visitors stood in a messy single-file line with phone cameras in hand, some with selfie sticks and most with bags under their eyes from waking up so early.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of enthusiast

Noun

Although the hockey mask never appears, Kane lovingly re-creates exact scenes from the original movie to offer flashes of eye candy to Jason fanatics.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
The blueprint included the recruitment of mercenaries and exploiting the grievances of disaffected citizens, from religious fanatics and extremists to soccer fans.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of fanatic

Browse Nearby Words

mania

maniac

maniacal

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Style

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

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Synonyms of maniac

noun

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