as in anxiety
a feeling that one does not know the whole truth or that someone else is not being truthful
Each half of the unhappy couple was constantly wracked with paranoia that the other was cheating.
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Recent Examples of paranoia
One is addled by paranoia and extremism, the other knows only heartless corporate speak.
—
Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Amid the paranoia of the Cold War, the eight-episode season (critics received five for review) has many eerie elements, including its parallels to the present day.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
At this Nevada motel, your check-in comes with creeping paranoia.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
The paranoia and pettiness between coach and general manager can no longer infect the locker room with Michael Malone and Calvin Booth long since fired.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoia
Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Amid the paranoia of the Cold War, the eight-episode season (critics received five for review) has many eerie elements, including its parallels to the present day.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 22 Oct. 2025
At this Nevada motel, your check-in comes with creeping paranoia.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
The paranoia and pettiness between coach and general manager can no longer infect the locker room with Michael Malone and Calvin Booth long since fired.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paranoia
Noun
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That driving tension and anxiety are largely thanks to the team of artisans, which included composer Volker Bertelmann, editor Kirk Baxter and sound designer Paul Ottosson, who worked closely behind the scenes on their respective crafts to bring it together.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
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That sense of anxiety is present throughout the book, most vividly in a wide shot of a group of cheerleaders rehearsing in a gym.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The deployment has also raised concerns about racial profiling, wrongful arrests, and political pressure on law enforcement to align with federal immigration crackdowns.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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He was included on the short list of presidential candidates in 2022 when Democrats started airing concerns about then-President Joe Biden's ability to run for a second term.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Paul has cited Coast Guard statistics that show a significant percentage of boats boarded for suspicion of drug trafficking are innocent.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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Destiny Harrison, 25, the boy's mother, is being held on suspicion of murder, the outlets reported, citing the sheriff's department.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Internet viewers are in disbelief over what happened to an employee—on their day off.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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Their faith paradoxically lessens in the face of evil, even for Father Karras, trembling in disbelief and dwindling hope the more the demon Pazuzu reveals itself.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paranoia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paranoia. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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