manic

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "manic" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of heightened excitement, energy, or activity, often associated with mania in psychological contexts. Example: "During the manic phase of his condition, he worked tirelessly on his projects, barely sleeping."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This isn't in a manic way, either – he's relaxed and lucid.

The Guardian - Music

Revision time is manic and everyone deals with it differently.

The Guardian

He performed as a child with his incredibly morbid father, and suffered manic depression throughout his life.

The Guardian

He is keenly aware of his own absurdities, which not only include his sartorial "fetishism" (his word) but also a fairly manic obsession with football (in general and Crystal Palace in particular), and music (again in general, but especially Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones).

The Guardian - Film

Whether after recent results – including the manic second leg of their semi-final against Sheffield United, when they led 3-0, 4-2 and 5-3 witwotwo minutes to go and eventually clung on to a draw – they retain enough confidence to pip Preston we will soon find out.

The Guardian - Sport

This collective manic revision mentality can be both a source of motivation and stress.

The Guardian

He was in his mid-30s that manic February, and remembers booting up multiple PCs to leach off any Coltrane rarities he was still missing.

The Guardian - Music

He is a man under pressure: Bahari diagnoses him as a psychopath and manic depressive, but also lets pathos in, calling him: "Just a man with a job".

The Guardian

In fact, as well as being admirably effective in two of the three top ministerial jobs, Straw has shown himself bravely willing to speak out (see Iran) when he thought it necessary to be a counterweight to Tony Blair's manic support for anything that President Bush might do.

The Guardian - Opinion

The closest we come is when Hitchcock stands in the lobby outside the premiere, faux-conducting Bernard Hermann's slashing violins; he has a combination of a maestro's manual flourishes and a murderer's manic stabbing motions as the audience inside wails and howls its way through the shower scene.

The Guardian - Film

The shoe-bomber, Richard Reid, was apprehended by flight attendants and passengers, not one of the new air-marshal police officers.America's airline industry has now embraced security in a somewhat manic fashion.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "manic" to accurately describe states of abnormally elevated mood or energy, especially when discussing psychological conditions or intense, frenzied activity. Be mindful of the clinical connotations.

Common error

Avoid using "manic" casually to describe everyday busyness or excitement. Its stronger clinical association can make your description sound exaggerated or insensitive.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "manic" functions primarily as a modifier, describing a noun to indicate a state of heightened excitement, energy, or activity. Ludwig AI confirms its standard usage in describing mania or intense behavior.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "manic" functions as an adjective used to describe states of abnormally high energy or excitement. Ludwig AI confirms that the term is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in English. The primary contexts where you'll encounter "manic" are in news and formal business publications. While the term is considered correct, it’s best to be mindful of its clinical associations and avoid overuse in casual conversation. When writing, be aware of the potential misinterpretations due to its intensity, and consider alternatives like "frenzied" or "hyperactive" to fine-tune the specific meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frenzied

Similar in intensity, but often implies uncontrolled excitement or agitation.

hyperactive

Focuses on excessive activity, especially physical activity.

frantic

Suggests wild, hurried, and disorganized activity due to panic or stress.

feverish

Implies intense excitement or activity, often associated with a sense of urgency.

agitated

Highlights restlessness and anxiety.

delirious

Indicates a state of wild excitement or irrationality.

unhinged

Suggests a loss of mental stability or control.

unstable

Implies a lack of emotional or mental balance.

turbulent

Emphasizes a state of disturbance and chaos.

hectic

Focuses on a busy and chaotic state.

FAQs

How is "manic" typically used in a sentence?

The adjective "manic" is often used to describe periods of abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity levels. For example, "The project took on a "frenzied" pace as the deadline approached".

What are some alternatives to the word "manic"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "frenzied", "hyperactive", or "frantic".

When is it appropriate to use "manic" in writing?

"Manic" is appropriate when describing someone experiencing a state of mania, characterized by extreme energy, excitement, and sometimes irrational behavior. You can also use it to describe something that exhibits excessive activity.

What's the difference between "manic" and "excited"?

"Excited" describes a state of enthusiasm and anticipation, while "manic" implies a more intense, potentially unstable state of elevated mood and energy, often associated with a clinical condition.