1
as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
It was some surprise to see such chill person become a complete maniac when he got behind the wheel.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lover
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
I'm a maniac for anything flavored with peppermint
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Recent Examples of maniac
There’s also some pro forma mother-daughter conflict, the possibility of the return of a maniac of yore and a modern twist in the gag.
—
Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
Many Americans believe White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland-security adviser Stephen Miller is a cruel, ruthless maniac intent on turning the country into an authoritarian ethno-state.
—John Ficarra, Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026
However, unexpected and decidedly unwelcome guests keep turning up, including Beau’s brother, and a man who might be a homicidal maniac.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Maybe civil war could’ve been avoided this time around, too, had Xander not been such an anti-ghoul maniac.
—Jack King, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniac
Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
Many Americans believe White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland-security adviser Stephen Miller is a cruel, ruthless maniac intent on turning the country into an authoritarian ethno-state.
—John Ficarra, Air Mail, 14 Feb. 2026
However, unexpected and decidedly unwelcome guests keep turning up, including Beau’s brother, and a man who might be a homicidal maniac.
—Matthew J. Palm, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026
Maybe civil war could’ve been avoided this time around, too, had Xander not been such an anti-ghoul maniac.
—Jack King, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maniac
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maniac
Noun
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Friends with a sudden devotion to nature begin making plans to convene in parks; TurboTax becomes your closest email companion; your risk of injury at the hands of a lunatic on a City Bike, haunted by the memory of a New Year’s resolution to exercise, may increase.—
Elly Leavitt,
Vogue,
25 Mar. 2026
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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
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Some, like Chloe’s triad, are all lovers.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Some Disney lovers worry the small back walkway near Country Bear Musical Jamboree, a longtime sit-down attraction, could close as Frontierland shifts toward the Piston Peak setting, the blogs reported.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Post-draft outlook Don’t let the draft-weekend optimism fool you — the Cardinals have a long road ahead.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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There is an old saying that people who represent themselves in court effectively have a fool for a lawyer.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Snip upright suckers and water sprouts that zap the tree’s energy.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2026
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But to think that suckers get an even break when insiders have information that assures them of winning is folly.—
William Mersey,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Organic cotton and goose down in three firm varieties mean there’s a suitable fill for stomach, back, and side sleepers alike.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
26 Apr. 2026
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The National Park Service has carried out some renovations since then, and the pool is also periodically drained to scrub out algae, garbage, goose droppings and other detritus.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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When the Dodgers public address announcer read the Cubs starting lineup, Dodgers fans vehemently booed Crow-Armstrong, a trend that continued before each at-bat and again Saturday when he was announced pregame.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
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League handlers gave Heidenreich a chance to walk through the crowd and dap up the adoring fans.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The sheer variety of offerings — many introduced as new items each year — has helped cement the fair’s status as a destination not just for Minnesotans but for food enthusiasts across the country.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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The bizarre directive was flagged in a tweet that drew attention from other AI enthusiasts.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In 2025, the eatery was voted among the Top 50 sports bar in Charlotte, cementing itself as a go-to spot for sports fanatics, CharlotteFive previously reported.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
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Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, the Duffer Brothers were early film fanatics, reportedly creating their first feature film in the fourth grade.—
Victoria Le,
Oc Register,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Maniac.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maniac. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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