maniac

maniac — noun

IPA/ˈmeɪ.ni.æk/
KK[mˈeniˌæk]IPA/ˈmeɪ.ni.æk/
  • maniacsingular
  • maniacsplural

1. someone who is extremely interested in a particular activity or hobby, spending

1.nounB2
Definition

someone who is extremely interested in a particular activity or hobby, spending a lot of time and energy on it

Example

Haruki is a fitness maniac who goes to the gym before sunrise every morning.

noun + maniac: describes enthusiasm for an activity

Mei-Lin's reputation as a film maniac was well-deserved — she had watched over a thousand movies from around the world.

Common collocations
  • fitness maniac
  • film maniac
  • baking maniac
  • cycling maniac
  • gardening maniac
  • running maniac
  • computer maniac
Synonyms
  • enthusiast

    more neutral and formal; does not suggest obsession

  • fanatic

    stronger and can imply extreme or unreasonable devotion

  • devotee

    suggests loyalty and dedication rather than wild enthusiasm

  • buff

    informal, usually for someone with deep knowledge of a topic

Grammar Patterns

[noun] maniac

maniac for [noun]

Usage Note

Used with a preceding noun to indicate what activity the person is obsessed with: fitness maniac, film maniac, cycling maniac, etc. This sense is not offensive.

Common Mistakes

He is a maniac of fitness.
He is a fitness maniac.
The activity comes before 'maniac' as a compound noun, not after it with a preposition.

2. a person who behaves in a wild or dangerous way without thinking about risks or

2.nounB2
Definition

a person who behaves in a wild or dangerous way without thinking about risks or the safety of others

Example

Some maniac tried to overtake us on a blind curve at top speed.

some maniac: referring to an unknown reckless person

Kwame called the police after a maniac drove through the market square at midnight.

a maniac + specific reckless action

Common collocations
  • complete maniac
  • total maniac
  • absolute maniac
  • road maniac
Synonyms
  • lunatic

    similarly informal but more offensive; avoid in most contexts

  • madman

    stronger and more dated; can be offensive

  • psychopath

    different meaning — refers to a specific personality disorder, not just recklessness

Grammar Patterns

(complete/total/absolute) maniac

Usage Note

This sense can be offensive if used to refer to someone with a mental health condition. It is informal and should be avoided in formal writing or professional settings. The word is not a clinical term.

Common Mistakes

The patient was diagnosed as a maniac.
The patient was diagnosed with mania.
'Maniac' is not a clinical term; use 'mania' for the medical condition.

maniac — adjective

IPA/ˈmeɪniæk/
KK[mˈeniˌæk]IPA/ˈmeɪniæk/

Word family

  • mania
    nounC1
  • maniacal
    adjectiveC1
  • maniacally
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe someone with strong interest in an activity, but they differ in intensity and tone. 'Enthusiast' is the most neutral and broadly acceptable — it suggests genuine enjoyment without obsession. 'Fanatic' is stronger and often carries a negative tone, implying unreasonable or extreme dedication; it is also associated with religious or political extremism. 'Devotee' focuses on loyalty and consistent dedication rather than wild excitement, and it often appears in the context of sports, arts, or spiritual practices. 'Buff' is informal and usually describes someone with deep factual knowledge of a topic (e.g. a history buff or film buff). 'Maniac' is the most informal and intense of the group: it suggests an almost compulsive level of engagement. For example, calling someone a 'fitness maniac' implies they organise their entire life around exercise, while a 'fitness enthusiast' simply enjoys working out regularly.

enthusiast ↗fanatic ↗devotee ↗buff ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • like a maniac

Etymology

Ancient GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'maniac' comes from Late Latin 'maniacus', meaning 'mad', which in turn came from Greek 'maniakos', derived from 'mania' ('madness, frenzy'). The word entered English in the 1600s and originally referred to someone suffering from violent madness. By the 1900s, a milder sense emerged for someone with an extreme but harmless enthusiasm for a hobby or activity — for example, a 'fitness maniac' or 'movie maniac'.