maniac
Americannoun
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a raving or violently insane person; lunatic.
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any intemperate or overly zealous or enthusiastic person.
a maniac when it comes to details.
adjective
noun
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a wild disorderly person
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a person who has a great craving or enthusiasm for something
a football maniac
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obsolete psychiatry a person afflicted with mania
Etymology
Origin of maniac
First recorded in 1595–1605, maniac is from the Medieval Latin word maniacus of, pertaining to madness. See mania, -ac
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Every time the case is recalled in the papers,” she would say, “I seem to hear from every maniac in the country.”
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2025
But, like every addled maniac, his hatred lacks focus.
From Salon • Jan. 5, 2025
“And I’m not some crazed maniac set out to destroy this nation.”
From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2023
But at night, during the annual festivals, he dances like a maniac and whips people with olive branches.
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2023
“I got you some clothes so you don’t look like a total maniac, though I’m not sure it’ll help much if you go around telling people you’re maxing and relaxing,” Gibby said.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
