maniacal

[ muh-nahy-uh-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to mania or a maniac.

maniacal

/ ˈmeɪnɪæk; məˈnaɪəkəl /

adjective

1. affected with or characteristic of mania
2. characteristic of or befitting a maniac

   maniacal laughter

Derived Forms

• maˈniacally, adverb

Other Words From

• ma·ni·a·cal·ly adverb
• post·ma·ni·a·cal adjective
• pre·ma·ni·a·cal adjective
• sub·ma·ni·a·cal adjective
• un·ma·ni·a·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of maniacal¹

First recorded in 1670–80; maniac + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Owner David Tepper is known to be both aggressive and maniacal in his desire to land a franchise quarterback.

From Washington Post

Especially lacking, he said was the "maniacal" focus on manufacturing that had been a hallmark since Intel's founding.

From Axios

I got through it by taking off my glasses so I couldn’t see the vehicles hurtling toward us, while Neil maintained a death-grip on the steering wheel, maniacal smile firmly in place.

From Washington Post

Pough, a former captain of the Howard football team who had brief stints with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, has his own maniacal-type energy and was determined not to let Reese check out mentally.

From Washington Post

The low pay, the poor lights, the fleabag hotels, the maniacal fans, the hopelessness of it all.

From The Daily Beast

His bland take on the icon is nothing like his maniacal turns in American Psycho or The Fighter.

From The Daily Beast

"Al Qaeda," presented as such, would be rejected out of hand as a gang of maniacal barbarians.

From The Daily Beast

Protest all you want about giving someone else a chance, but that maniacal laugh alone deserves its own little trophy.

From The Daily Beast

The episode “Crawl Space,” in which Walter discovers the money is gone and breaks into maniacal laughter, was a critical favorite.

From The Daily Beast

He could tool a heap like a maniacal genius born with a steering wheel in his hands.

From Project Gutenberg

Because of this, maniacal patients should be guarded with quite as much care as those suffering from melancholia.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no telling what the next move of this maniacal avenger will be.

From Project Gutenberg

But on his return to Rome the powerful personality of Taurus Antinor soon imposed itself upon the fierce and maniacal despot.

From Project Gutenberg

"Tell me more—tell me——" he bellowed at last, during an interval between two of these maniacal spasms.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• delirious