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adj Uncommon

manic

MA-nihk

Manic (adj) means showing the abnormally high energy, excitement, or agitation typical of mania. Example: “He went on a manic cleaning spree at two in the morning.”

adj
1
Showing the abnormally high energy, excitement, or agitation typical of mania.
"He went on a manic cleaning spree at two in the morning."
2
Frantic, frenzied, or wildly energetic.
"The last week before the wedding was pure manic chaos."

How to use manic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWildly energetic or agitated, whether in a clinical or everyday sense.

Common pairings
manic energy manic episode manic pace

Word forms

more manic comparative, manics plural, Manics plural, most manic superlative

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He went on a _____ cleaning spree at two in the morning.

Etymology

From mania plus the suffix -ic, echoing Greek manikos.

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for manic

See all rhymes for manic →

Frequently asked questions

What does “manic” mean?

The word “manic” means showing the abnormally high energy, excitement, or agitation typical of mania. In plain terms, wildly energetic or agitated, whether in a clinical or everyday sense.

How do you pronounce “manic”?

“Manic” is pronounced MA-nihk (/ˈmeə̯nɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “manic” in a sentence?

Here is “manic” used in a sentence: “He went on a manic cleaning spree at two in the morning.”

What part of speech is “manic”?

“Manic” is an adjective.

Where does the word “manic” come from?

The word “manic” comes from Greek. From mania plus the suffix -ic, echoing Greek manikos.

Is “manic” a common word?

“Manic” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “manic” have?

“Manic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: showing the abnormally high energy, excitement, or agitation typical of mania.

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