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
Hostile or disapproving questions about a silly meme, however, would raise the bar for paranoid border defense to an absurd new level.
—
Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025
TikTok is full of viral paranoid suggestions for ways to test your relationship and ludicrous theories about the One Way to know if any relationship will work.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
The extremists allegedly plotted to poison Kelly’s food, leaving the Chocolate Factory crooner too paranoid to eat.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 13 June 2025
In the 20th century, the island was further sealed off by the paranoid regime of Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha, who turned it into a military bastion that was forbidden to civilians.
—The Dial, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
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Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2025
TikTok is full of viral paranoid suggestions for ways to test your relationship and ludicrous theories about the One Way to know if any relationship will work.
—Jia Tolentino, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
The extremists allegedly plotted to poison Kelly’s food, leaving the Chocolate Factory crooner too paranoid to eat.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 13 June 2025
In the 20th century, the island was further sealed off by the paranoid regime of Albanian dictator Enver Hoxha, who turned it into a military bastion that was forbidden to civilians.
—The Dial, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
Cite this Entry
“Paranoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paranoid. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
paranoid
1 of 2 adjective
para·noid
ˈpar-ə-ˌnȯid
variants
also paranoidal
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
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