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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of maniac
This maniac should be removed from office.
—
CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
There’s also some pro forma mother-daughter conflict, the possibility of the return of a maniac of yore and a modern twist in the gag.
—Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maniac
CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 3 Mar. 2026
Because Sidney Prescott, now Evans, exists only in relationship to Ghostface, the costume worn by many different knife-wielding maniacs over the years, starting with her high school boyfriend.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
There’s also some pro forma mother-daughter conflict, the possibility of the return of a maniac of yore and a modern twist in the gag.
—Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for maniac
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniac
Noun
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The lunatics are running the asylum.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
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Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Michael Cera, Will Arnett and other lunatics round out the cast.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Noun
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Itineraries guide food-lovers to Breyðvirkið, the Faroe Islands’ sole artisanal sourdough bakery, renowned for its exceptional coffee and its ‘BMO’ (bolle med ost), a classic Scandinavian breakfast of a fresh sourdough bun with butter and cheese.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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These thin sheets of lead containing scratches of supernatural desires were used to sway a court case, target a rival, or even a lover, as per Archaeology News.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
20 June 2026
Noun
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This game makes fools of us all.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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But while that conversation was happening upstairs, Brian was downstairs making a fool of her yet again.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Good choices include live sunfish, suckers, bullheads, carp, goldfish, and chubs.—
Keith Sutton,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
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Southerners are suckers for cities on the water, and the charming community of Stuart, Florida, is abundantly blessed on that front.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Noun
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While there’s no denying that gooseneck loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides) is a charming plant with sweet white flowers that resemble a goose's neck, it's also widely recognized as a troublesome invasive.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
7 June 2026
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This typically gets worse over time and is often accompanied by a harsh goose-honking cough triggered by excitement or exercise.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Noun
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Still, despite the squad’s positivity, the match triggered a lot of bad memories in the minds of Spain fans everywhere ahead of what many thought could be an excellent chance to earn the nation’s second World Cup.—
Patrick Sung Cuadrado,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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Eftekhari worries that the mood at Iran’s first match, where fans and protesters clashed, affected the players.—
Gabriela Aoun Angueira,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
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Amateur and professional motor enthusiasts alike will replace the stock rotors with high-performing, aftermarket rotors to improve the stopping power of their cars.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
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Driving the length of Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles is a memorable experience for many road trip enthusiasts.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Its latest, the HM12, is a $384,000 futuristic piece that would send any Marvel fanatic into a frenzy—a watch that doubles as a robot.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
12 June 2026
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Like many of the top execs at ESPN/ABC, Disney’s global ad sales president is a long-suffering Knicks fanatic, and her team’s astonishing comeback has placed them within arm’s reach of their first title in 53 years.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniac. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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