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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paranoia
This is a show heavily interested in the way paranoia turns us all into weapons of mass destruction in our communities, especially when everyone’s looking to escape the ennui of their small-town blues.
—
Grace Byron, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
For all the cruelty, paranoia and oppression of the Red Scare in the 1940s and 1950s, there really were Soviet spies in America.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
There are certainly no major factors like physical abuse during our childhood, however, our mother had some psychological problems and showed some anger and paranoia symptoms, which scared us as children and were overt enough that many in our town knew about her.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Though his paranoia is not unwarranted.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoia
Grace Byron, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
For all the cruelty, paranoia and oppression of the Red Scare in the 1940s and 1950s, there really were Soviet spies in America.
—Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
There are certainly no major factors like physical abuse during our childhood, however, our mother had some psychological problems and showed some anger and paranoia symptoms, which scared us as children and were overt enough that many in our town knew about her.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Though his paranoia is not unwarranted.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paranoia
Noun
-
The nation’s third shutdown in 12 years has again raised anxiety levels among service members and their families as those in uniform are working without pay.—
Fortune,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
-
In the book, she's portrayed as someone suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and on anxiety medication, both of which are used to discredit her and paint her as unwell.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Phillies entered the ninth trailing 4-1 and quickly reminded the Dodgers why their bullpen concerns are so loud.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
On the heels of Karen’s sentencing, the women gather at Gizelle’s house to commiserate, and spend the whole scene dancing between concern, empathy, and absurdity.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Advertisement An investigation led by the Guardian found in September that out of the 6,000 Palestinians from Gaza held by Israel since the Hamas terror attack two years ago, only one quarter were held on suspicion of militant links.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
-
But when faced with temptation, players driven by curiosity, suspicion, and revenge make dramatic choices to survive to the end.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Varland was left in disbelief that Judge could hit that pitch out for a home run.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
-
News of the arrest gave rise to anger, delight and disbelief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paranoia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paranoia. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share