maniacally
Americanadverb
-
in a way that is reminiscent of a violently insane person.
A touch on the shoulder would likely be received differently from a smiling person than from a person who is laughing maniacally.
-
in an overzealous or excessively enthusiastic way; fanatically.
Far from being the maniacally focused, late-night or early-morning types, truly creative innovators and problem solvers have a rich life outside of work.
-
in a way that is related to or typical of manic disorder.
I can tell I'm maniacally spending if I stop and pay attention to how many purchases I have to return.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of maniacally
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.
“I don’t think we have the luxury of picking just one and staying maniacally focused on it because it could be that you pick the wrong one and then you’re making bad decisions,” Hammack said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
Game 3 was a one-sided clunker, but Game 1, Game 2 and Game 4 all went to sudden-death OT —hockey’s equivalent of dangling you over a bridge by your shoelaces while laughing maniacally.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2025
In a five-star review, the Guardian said it was "beautiful, brilliant and maniacally unmissable".
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2024
With two trips to the East Coast and a finale against a 49ers team maniacally primed to finally win another Super Bowl, this could be a long, debilitating stretch for the Rams.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2023
Grinning maniacally, he spins in rapid circles, swinging his arms and head in time with the song, flawlessly cycling through several signature ’80s dance moves.
From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline
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.
