1
as in lunatics
a person judged to be legally or medically insane
they should permanently put away the maniac who is responsible for these kidnappings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in lovers
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 maniacs
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
Haunted Trail takes visitors outdoors through a path with dense fog and several haunting installations with zombies, a ghoul bus, a graveyard filled with ghosts, chainsaw maniacs and more.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
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
Haunted Trail takes visitors outdoors through a path with dense fog and several haunting installations with zombies, a ghoul bus, a graveyard filled with ghosts, chainsaw maniacs and more.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniacs
Noun
-
To get a sentence like that in a communist, radically left-wing city of liberal lunatics is truly amazing.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Secretary of State Marco Rubio wasn’t far behind, saying the war is being waged against religious lunatics.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
At the end of season two, Lestat and Louis have reunited as lovers.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
-
For nature lovers, surfers, divers and fishermen, the setting offers both seclusion and connection.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
As Rose’s impoverished yet imperious mother Ruth, Parson’s dry deliveries offer great comic ballast to this ship of fools.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
-
McGinn sets high standards in training and during games and does not suffer fools.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Nilles, meanwhile, won over fans from her first cymbal crash and wove through every drumming nuance created by Peart.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
By the time the series moved to Chicago, the enmity between the New York and Chicago teams—and between the Yankees’ and the Cubs’ fans—was focused on Ruth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
One- or 2-foot-long suckers will produce enough bait chunks for an entire day of fishing.—
Chad Mason,
Outdoor Life,
3 June 2026
-
This revealed that the creature had short arms, few arm suckers, and no ink sac, as well as having very smooth skin and a large rachidian tooth.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Nature enthusiasts have long sought out the 198 acres of parkland area for its hiking and equestrian trails, seasonal streams, native plants, and wildlife.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
Nevertheless, the site continues to attract history enthusiasts, according to Kadaster.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Plane Spotting From Airport Hotels Special aviation packages are not the only way for plane fanatics to get up close and personal with their passion.—
Ramsey Qubein,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Virginia's capital city has something for every kind of traveler—from history lovers and art fanatics to foodies and outdoorsy types.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maniacs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniacs. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
