paranoia

noun

para·​noia ˌper-ə-ˈnȯi-ə 

ˌpa-rə-

1

: mental illness characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur usually without hallucinations

Psychotic symptoms and paranoia persisted, and she continued to "find clues" of conspiracy against her.

—Helen K. Delichatsios et al.

2

: a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others

The members of America's racist right inhabit a murky world of conspiracy, suspicion, and paranoia.

—Wayne King

paranoiac

ˌper-ə-ˈnȯi-ˌak 

-ˈnȯi-ik

ˌpa-rə-

adjective or noun

or less commonly paranoic

ˌper-ə-ˈnȯi(-i)k 

-ˈnō-ik,

ˌpa-rə-

paranoically

ˌper-ə-ˈnȯi(-i)-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈnō-i-k(ə-)lē

ˌpa-rə-

adverb

Examples of paranoia in a Sentence

She was diagnosed with delusional paranoia.

I had to admit that my fears were just paranoia.

Recent Examples on the Web

Once Brennan plants the seed of his own paranoia in her, the empathetic new arrival starts to worry about one of the girls, Carlita (Nicole Sorace), who keeps to herself, scribbling demented portraits of her suspicious guardians in coal-black pencil. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024

Another irony is that anti-government paranoia led to the plotters being infiltrated and surveilled by government agents, busted in an action-movie-style scene, and, in some cases, incarcerated. —Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024

As paranoia and accusations fly among a group of wealthy friends isolated in a mansion, the film cleverly uses its premise to test the limits of friendship and trust, as well as expose the destructive nature of secrets. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Of course there was a wave of paranoia when AI first began to go through its growth spurt in 2023. —Chloe Berger, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024

That paranoia is difficult to dismiss in this part of California’s Central Valley, though, after a local politician was arrested on allegations of a slew of crimes involving election fraud. —Mackenzie Mays, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2024

There is no panic in Belgorod, but tension and paranoia are rife. —Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024

The manifestations found in these studies included self-harm (like Zeinab), depression (like Ali), anxiety (like Suha), and paranoia (like Kassem). —Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024

In the days leading up to the convoy, organizing channels on Telegram were riddled with rumors and paranoia suggesting the event was going to lead to Jan. 6 -style arrests. —Madeleine May, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek, madness, from paranous demented, from para- + nous mind

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

paranoia

noun

para·​noia ˌpar-ə-ˈnȯi-ə 

1

: a serious mental disorder marked especially by feelings of persecution or an exaggerated sense of one's own importance usually without hallucinations

2

: a tendency toward being overly suspicious and distrustful

Medical Definition

paranoia

noun

para·​noia ˌpar-ə-ˈnȯi-ə 

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