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

Job candidates are using AI to fake their way through interviews, and recruiters are paranoid. — Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 20 July 2026

On his glitzy and paranoid new record, the rapper wrestles with survivor’s guilt while making a case for East Coast boom-bap’s perpetual adaptability. — Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026

Trump’s speech tonight rested on a few solid facts submerged in wild, and even somewhat paranoid, extrapolations. — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Panic Carefully, described as a paranoid thriller reminiscent of Silence of the Lambs, stars Elizabeth Olsen, Julia Roberts, Eddie Redmayne, Brian Tyree Henry, Ben Chaplin, Aidan Gillen, Joe Alwyn and Naledi Murray. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 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