maniac
noun
ma·ni·ac ˈmā-nē-ˌak 
1
: madman, lunatic
2
: a person characterized by an inordinate or ungovernable enthusiasm for something
Synonyms
- bug
- crackbrain
- crazy
- fool
- fruitcake
- head case
- loon
- loony
- lunatic
- nut
- nutcase
- nutter [British slang]
- psycho
- psychopath
- sickie
- sicko
- wacko
- whacko
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He's a complete maniac when he's playing football. they should permanently put away the maniac who is responsible for these kidnappings
Recent Examples on the Web Being Black didn’t inoculate me from being a maniac. 
Helena Andrews-dyer, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 These days, Gardner is no longer frightened of Chucky — even if the little maniac is still capable of giving her an occasional scare. Clark Collis, EW.com, 19 July 2022 While Max was using her mind as bait to distract Vecna in the Upside Down, the delusional maniac Jason Carver crushes her cassette tape player while fighting with Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) to bring her out of the trance. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 5 July 2022 But the hottest looks — if cosplaying attendees are any indication — were simpler, rougher and makeshift, the kind of thing any cost-conscious maniac in a garage could scramble together. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2022 The haunted house will recreate some of the most iconic scenes from Halloween as guests make their way through his dilapidated home, trying to avoid becoming one of his victims in the knife-wielding maniac’s relentless and bloody campaign of terror. Simon Thompson, Forbes, 8 June 2022 The film follows Jamie (Shipka), whose mom, Pam (Bowen), is terrorized by the resurgence of the Sweet Sixteen Killer — a masked maniac that slaughtered a group of teenage girls in the 1980s. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 May 2022 Get a grip on your triskaidekaphobia and revisit this seminal 1980 slasher flick about oversexed young camp counselors and the knife- and -ax-wielding homicidal maniac who hates them. Matt Cooperlistings Coordinator, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2022 Esso left off in the 2030s where Rhia is now going to uni and is facing a whole new host of challenges, both personally and with upper world and a maniac on the loose, who’s trying to kill her and has ambitions on conquering the multiverses himself. Rayna Reid, Essence, 20 May 2022 See More
Helena Andrews-dyer, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022 These days, Gardner is no longer frightened of Chucky — even if the little maniac is still capable of giving her an occasional scare. Clark Collis, EW.com, 19 July 2022 While Max was using her mind as bait to distract Vecna in the Upside Down, the delusional maniac Jason Carver crushes her cassette tape player while fighting with Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) to bring her out of the trance. Keith Nelson, Men's Health, 5 July 2022 But the hottest looks — if cosplaying attendees are any indication — were simpler, rougher and makeshift, the kind of thing any cost-conscious maniac in a garage could scramble together. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2022 The haunted house will recreate some of the most iconic scenes from Halloween as guests make their way through his dilapidated home, trying to avoid becoming one of his victims in the knife-wielding maniac’s relentless and bloody campaign of terror. Simon Thompson, Forbes, 8 June 2022 The film follows Jamie (Shipka), whose mom, Pam (Bowen), is terrorized by the resurgence of the Sweet Sixteen Killer — a masked maniac that slaughtered a group of teenage girls in the 1980s. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 May 2022 Get a grip on your triskaidekaphobia and revisit this seminal 1980 slasher flick about oversexed young camp counselors and the knife- and -ax-wielding homicidal maniac who hates them. Matt Cooperlistings Coordinator, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2022 Esso left off in the 2030s where Rhia is now going to uni and is facing a whole new host of challenges, both personally and with upper world and a maniac on the loose, who’s trying to kill her and has ambitions on conquering the multiverses himself. Rayna Reid, Essence, 20 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Latin maniacus maniacal, from Greek maniakos, from mania
First Known Use
circa 1763, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing maniac
Kids Definition
maniac
noun
ma·ni·ac ˈmā-nē-ˌak
1
: a person who is or behaves as if insane
2
: a person who is extremely enthusiastic about something
maniacs
noun
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
- lunatics
- psychopaths
- fools
- psychos
- crazies
- nuts
- loonies
- wackos
- schizos
- bugs
- sickos
- nutcases
- nutters
- loons
- psychotics
- whackos
- madmen
- fruitcakes
- sickies
- madwomen
- patients
- monomaniacs
- paranoids
- head cases
- sociopaths
- deviants
- abnormals
- neurotics
- obsessives
- crackbrains
- characters
- schizophrenics
- weirdos
- kooks
- schizoids
- cracks
- eccentrics
- crackpots
- oddballs
- screwballs
- zanies
- tykes
- codgers
- schizophrenes
- fantastics
- psychoneurotics
- cases
- originals
- manic-depressives
- cranks
- flakes
- obsessive-compulsives
- mythomaniacs
- oddities
- tikes
- quizzes
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
- lovers
- fans
- suckers
- fanatics
- enthusiasts
- freaks
- addicts
- fiends
- devotees
- nuts
- junkies
- buffs
- fools
- aficionados
- collectors
- fanciers
- supporters
- hounds
- mavens
- admirers
- bugs
- habitues
- friends
- proponents
- afficionados
- experts
- habitués
- groupies
- authorities
- mavins
- amateurs
- heads
- cultists
- connoisseurs
- promoters
- zealots
- adherents
- dilettantes
- exponents
- followers
- advocates
- disciples
- partisans
- evangelists
- patrons
- votaries
- champions
- faddists
- dilettanti
- apostles
- backers
- rooters
- boosters
- converts
- hangers-on
- partizans
- well-wishers
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonfans
- detractors
- carpers
- critics
- belittlers
- nonadmirers