maniac

[ mey-nee-ak ]

noun

1. a raving or violently insane person; lunatic.
2. any intemperate or overly zealous or enthusiastic person:

   a maniac when it comes to details.

adjective

1. maniacal.

maniac

/ ˈmeɪnɪˌæk /

noun

1. a wild disorderly person
2. a person who has a great craving or enthusiasm for something

   a football maniac

3. obsolete.
   psychiatry a person afflicted with mania

Word History and Origins

Origin of maniac¹

First recorded in 1595–1605, maniac is from the Medieval Latin word maniacus of, pertaining to madness. See mania, -ac

Word History and Origins

Origin of maniac¹

C17: from Late Latin maniacus belonging to madness, from Greek

Example Sentences

How far Trump can go to realize his rhetoric on education — including revamping colleges and universities he sees as being under the control of “Marxist maniacs” — is unclear.

From Los Angeles Times

When you see people driving like maniacs, it’s generally not folks in my age group on their way to bridge, or golf, or to pick up the grandkids from school.

From Los Angeles Times

Agenda 47, Trump’s collection of policy proposals, includes a pledge to protect students from the “radical left and Marxist maniacs infecting educational institutions.”

From Salon

"I was expecting Rob Lowe to be some maniac. I don't know why."

From Salon

The sorrow and anger repressed within him are as fearsome as the cinematic zombies, ghouls and homicidal maniacs that have seized his imagination.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crazy
• insane
• mad