variants
also maniac
as in psychotic
unable to think in a clear or sensible way
The show's maniacal villain has no method to his madness.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 maniacal
As the song reached the second appearance of the controversial lyric, Michael went from maniacal anger back to smoothly singing the new lines.
—
Dan Beck, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025
Plus, Jeremiah had to still be winded by busting out that extended dance remix of his maniacal villain laugh from back on the beach.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
In a desperate attempt to stop The Entity, President Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett) locates Ethan, who is now a rogue agent, and asks him to achieve the impossible by finding a way to shut the maniacal AI down.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The highlight of the maze was the children’s bedroom scene with moving furniture and a maniacal clown sliding out from underneath the bed.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniacal
Dan Beck, Variety, 21 Oct. 2025
Plus, Jeremiah had to still be winded by busting out that extended dance remix of his maniacal villain laugh from back on the beach.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
In a desperate attempt to stop The Entity, President Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett) locates Ethan, who is now a rogue agent, and asks him to achieve the impossible by finding a way to shut the maniacal AI down.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
The highlight of the maze was the children’s bedroom scene with moving furniture and a maniacal clown sliding out from underneath the bed.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniacal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniacal
Adjective
-
Norman Mailer achieved a similar thing in his non-fiction novel about Gary Gilmore The Executioner’s Song—although, by the time the book was published in 1979, the seedy, psychotic world of Gilmore and his two girlfriends, Nicole and April Baker, hardly came as a revelation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Since its introduction in 2022, only people with schizophrenia and other limited psychotic disorders have had access to the program.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The sanity phase of his trial began Thursday to determine whether Nicholson was legally insane at the time of the murders.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
-
This lockdown is insane & disturbing with what happened during our investigation.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As Heather and Whitney hang out in their room, Whitney points out that anytime Lisa’s mad at someone, information on that person subsequently comes out.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
And that is why the idea of him relaunching his coaching career back at the scene of such failures felt mad.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Everything about this film has been completely crazy.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But just to look back and to know that's how interviews were conducted, is kind of crazy.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Industry pushback and innovation concerns Some tech companies argue that such regulation could stifle innovation, limit beneficial uses of conversational AI (education, mental-health support for older teens) or impose heavy compliance burdens.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Regular exercise can prevent the physical and mental impacts of SWSD.—
Pamela Assid,
Verywell Health,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maniacal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniacal. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share