maniacal

adjective

ma·​ni·​a·​cal mə-ˈnī-ə-kəl 

variants or less commonly maniac

ˈmā-nē-ˌak 

1

: affected with or suggestive of madness

maniacal laughter

maniacal energy

a maniacal killer

2

: characterized by ungovernable excitement or frenzy : frantic

a maniacal mob

maniacal fans

maniacally

mə-ˈnī-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• balmy
• barmy [chiefly British]
• bats
• batty
• bedlam
• bonkers
• brainsick
• bughouse [slang]
• certifiable
• crackbrained
• cracked
• crackers
• crackpot
• cranky [dialect]
• crazed
• crazy
• cuckoo
• daffy
• daft
• demented
• deranged
• fruity [slang]
• gaga
• haywire
• insane
• kooky
• kookie
• loco [slang]
• loony
• looney
• loony tunes
• looney tunes
• lunatic
• mad
• mental
• meshuga
• meshugge
• meshugah
• meshuggah
• moonstruck
• non compos mentis
• nuts
• nutty
• psycho
• psychotic
• scatty [chiefly British]
• screwy
• unbalanced
• unhinged
• unsound
• wacko
• whacko
• wacky
• whacky
• wud [chiefly Scottish]

Examples of maniacal in a Sentence

the movie's villain was a just a clichéd axe-wielding nutcase with a maniacal laugh

Recent Examples on the Web

With maniacal toughness and run-your-ass-off transition offense. —Brendan Quinn, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025

Three years after Joy Behar took a tumble as the victim of a maniacal swivel chair, Whoopi Goldberg introduced a new gameplay obstacle to The View's virtual battle royale arena of a set. —EW.com, 18 Feb. 2025

Colman keeps her face frozen in an expression of maniacal cheerfulness, the hilarious effect of which really can’t be overstated. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025

Most compellingly, Shauna has grown bitchy and maniacal following her baby’s death and Natalie’s ascent to leadership. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French maniaque "mad, frenzied" & its source, Late Latin maniacus + -al entry 1 — more at maniac entry 1

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for maniacal

• demoniacal

Kids Definition

maniacal

adjective

ma·​ni·​a·​cal mə-ˈnī-ə-kəl 

variants also maniac

ˈmā-nē-ˌak 

: affected with or suggestive of madness

maniacally

mə-ˈnī-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

maniacal

adjective

ma·​ni·​a·​cal mə-ˈnī-ə-kəl 

variants also maniac

ˈmā-nē-ak 

: manic

maniacally

mə-ˈnī-ə-k(ə-)lē 

adverb