paranoia
para·noia
noun \ˌper-ə-ˈnȯi-ə, ˌpa-rə-\medical : a serious mental illness that causes you to falsely believe that other people are trying to harm you
: an unreasonable feeling that people are trying to harm you, do not like you, etc.
Full Definition of PARANOIA
1
: a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur usually without hallucinations
2
: a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others
— para·noi·ac \-ˈnȯi-ˌak, -ˈnȯi-ik\ also para·noic \-ˈnȯi(-i)k, -ˈnō-ik\ adjective or noun
— para·noi·cal·ly \-ˈnȯi(-i)-k(ə-)lē, -ˈnō-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
Examples of PARANOIA
- She was diagnosed with delusional paranoia.
- I had to admit that my fears were just paranoia.
Origin of PARANOIA
New Latin, from Greek, madness, from paranous demented, from para- + nous mind
First Known Use: circa 1811
Other Psychology Terms
para·noia
noun \ˌpar-ə-ˈnȯi-ə\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of PARANOIA
1
: a psychosis characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur usually without hallucinations
2
: a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others
paranoia
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)Mental disorder characterized by delusions of persecution or grandeur, usually without hallucinations. Paranoia was formerly classified as a distinct psychosis but is now generally treated as one of several varieties of schizophrenia or, in milder cases, of personality disorder. The paranoid person generally suffers from exaggerated self-reference, a tendency to construe independent events and acts as pertaining to him- or herself.
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