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Definition of maniacal

maniacal

/məˈnaɪ.ə.kəl/
ma · ni · a · cal
Adverb:maniacally
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maniacal Lexical Profile

maniacal Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Exhibiting extremely wild, frantic, or violent behavior, or resembling the actions and demeanor of a maniac.

Example

"The villain in the classic play let out a maniacal laugh upon revealing his elaborate scheme."

2

Characterized by an obsessive, fanatical, or excessively intense devotion to an activity, goal, or detail.

Example

"The head chef maintained a maniacal focus on kitchen cleanliness and ingredient freshness."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for maniacal

• Nearby Words

mani
mania
maniac
maniacal
maniacally
manic
manically

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 17th century from 'maniac' plus the suffix '-al', ultimately tracing back via Late Latin 'maniacus' to Ancient Greek 'maniakos' (mad, frantic), from 'mania' (madness, frenzy).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Maniacal. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maniacal
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