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
The book hinges on a conflict between self-righteous Burghers, who live in cities, and resentful, paranoid rural people known as Yeomen.
—
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
However, once a paranoid hermit nation of Europe, after 1992 Albania began to emerge from its fortress mindset.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Monroe is clearly having a good time playing the devious babysitter to Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s concerned, increasingly paranoid, affluent mother in Michelle Garza Cervera’s remake of Curtis Hanson’s 1992 thriller.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Fear-mongering, which comes off equal parts paranoid and patronizing, is the surest way to make people stop listening.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
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Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
However, once a paranoid hermit nation of Europe, after 1992 Albania began to emerge from its fortress mindset.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Monroe is clearly having a good time playing the devious babysitter to Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s concerned, increasingly paranoid, affluent mother in Michelle Garza Cervera’s remake of Curtis Hanson’s 1992 thriller.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
Fear-mongering, which comes off equal parts paranoid and patronizing, is the surest way to make people stop listening.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 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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