variants
also maniac
as in psychotic
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind
the movie's villain was a just a clichéd axe-wielding nutcase with a maniacal laugh
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of maniacal
Natalia Grace isn’t some maniacal scammer hellbent on tearing a family apart; Natalia is a child, desperate to be part of a family after a lifetime of longing to be loved.
—
Barry Levitt, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
With his occasionally brusque manner, his maniacal secrecy about team selection and his refusal to explain his tactical decisions, Luis Enrique put a few noses out of joint in the French media.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
The audience never knows what might happen, but there’s also little chance of something truly maniacal going on.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
To those used to seeing Mescal shine as the quiet and caring boyfriend on Normal People, watching the Irish heartthrob play a wife-beater and rapist stalking his prey with a maniacal grin is certainly a somewhat disturbing (and impressive) transformation.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniacal
Barry Levitt, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
With his occasionally brusque manner, his maniacal secrecy about team selection and his refusal to explain his tactical decisions, Luis Enrique put a few noses out of joint in the French media.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
The audience never knows what might happen, but there’s also little chance of something truly maniacal going on.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
To those used to seeing Mescal shine as the quiet and caring boyfriend on Normal People, watching the Irish heartthrob play a wife-beater and rapist stalking his prey with a maniacal grin is certainly a somewhat disturbing (and impressive) transformation.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniacal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniacal
Adjective
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The counselor also told police Trotman had had a previous psychotic break in which he was found wandering the woods.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
7 Feb. 2023
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Lewis prescribed Price anti-psychotic medication after a mental health referral Sept. 1.—
Thomas Saccente,
Arkansas Online,
17 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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With his shock of spiky hair and adrenaline rushes, Smith turns a corporate villain into a lunatic new-wave frontman.—
Charles McNultyTheater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2023
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The first personality is the lunatic, chaotic artist, with no limits.—
John Bleasdale,
Variety,
8 Dec. 2022
Adjective
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Contrary to popular belief, peanuts are actually not nuts.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
30 Mar. 2023
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Nonetheless, April 5, 2022, was nuts.—
Childs Walker,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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Galls can begin semisoft but harden with a cracked surface over time, though plants won’t necessarily display symptoms the same season or year they were infected.—
Miri Talabac,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Mar. 2023
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In recent years, several stretches of the aqueduct system have been drained to allow replacement of cracked and bulging sections of century-old concrete.—
Louis Sahagún,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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This definition also includes instance in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity (include due to the influence of drugs or alcohol) or because of age.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Apr. 2025
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The World Health Organization defines burnout as an occupational phenomenon which is characterized by feelings of energy depletion, increased mental distance from one's job, and reduced professional efficacy.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maniacal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniacal. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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