Search Dictionary
Definition of maniac

maniac

/ˈmeɪ.ni.æk/
ma · ni · ac
Adverb:maniacally
•
Plural:maniacs
•
Adjective:maniacal
JUMP TO:

maniac Lexical Profile

maniac Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who exhibits wild, reckless, or dangerously irrational behavior.

Example

"Some maniac was weaving through heavy highway traffic at ninety miles an hour."

2

A person who has an extreme or obsessive enthusiasm for a particular activity or subject.

Example

"He is an absolute fitness maniac who wakes up at four every morning to train for marathons."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for maniac

• adjective

1

Characterized by wild, frantic, or dangerously irrational behavior; maniacal.

Example

"The driver sped through the crowded intersection with maniac recklessness."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for maniac
Antonyms
View all antonyms for maniac

• Rhymes for maniac

• Nearby Words

manhunter
mani
mania
maniac
maniacal
maniacally
manic

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 16th century from Late Latin maniacus ('affected with mania'), which derived from Ancient Greek maniakos ('mad, frantic'), from mania ('madness, frenzy').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Maniac. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maniac
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.