paranoid

adjective

para·​noid ˈper-ə-ˌnȯid 

ˌpa-rə-

variants or less commonly paranoidal

ˌper-ə-ˈnȯi-dᵊl 

ˌpa-rə-

1

: characterized by or resembling paranoia or paranoid schizophrenia

a paranoid psychiatric patient

2

: characterized by suspiciousness, persecutory trends, or megalomania

behaving in a paranoid manner with accusations of persecutions

3

: extremely fearful

was so paranoid that he was afraid to walk the streets

paranoid noun

Examples of paranoid in a Sentence

I guess I was just being paranoid.

She's a little paranoid about her job.

It's nothing more than a paranoid fantasy.

Recent Examples on the Web

When Kavanaugh asks if Patel really is paranoid enough to make FBI staffers take polygraph tests, Patel denies it. —William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2026

Instead, Putin spends more time in underground bunkers micromanaging his war, paranoid about a coup or an assassination attempt by Ukrainian drones, sources told the Financial Times. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 9 May 2026

And as platforms like WEBB add their own datasets, the fodder for the paranoid fantasy of online conspiracy theories grows. —Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 8 May 2026

Of all of the absurd litigation prompted by the paranoid man in charge, this has to be the most ridiculous. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing paranoid

• paranoid schizophrenia

Rhymes for paranoid

• adenoid
• alkaloid
• amoeboid
• amyloid
• aneroid
• arachnoid
• asteroid
• benzenoid
• carcinoid
• celluloid
• coronoid
• humanoid

Kids Definition

paranoid

1 of 2 adjective

para·​noid

ˈpar-ə-ˌnȯid

1

: resembling paranoia

2

: marked especially by suspiciousness, distrust, and feelings of persecution

3

: extremely fearful

grew paranoid about losing her job

paranoid

2 of 2 noun

: one who is paranoid

Medical Definition

paranoid

1 of 2 adjective

para·​noid ˈpar-ə-ˌnȯid 

variants also paranoidal

ˌpar-ə-ˈnȯid-ᵊl 

1

: characterized by or resembling paranoia or paranoid schizophrenia

2

: characterized by suspiciousness, persecutory trends, or megalomania

paranoid

2 of 2 noun

: one affected with paranoia or paranoid schizophrenia

called also paranoiac