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
The influx of camera systems like KinaTrax, however, has increased the paranoia with which pitchers operate.
—
Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 6 May 2026
And deep into the invasion of Ukraine, as US support for Kyiv dwindles, European intelligence agencies have significant motivation to suggest mounting strife and paranoia in the Kremlin.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
This lucidity not only makes his work readable but also staves off the perception that discourse about UFOs and the CIA must be riddled with conspiratorial paranoia.
—Louis Bury, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
Hathaway has the disadvantage of having to play toward a lot of paranoia rather than actually playing with villainy.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for paranoia
Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 6 May 2026
And deep into the invasion of Ukraine, as US support for Kyiv dwindles, European intelligence agencies have significant motivation to suggest mounting strife and paranoia in the Kremlin.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
This lucidity not only makes his work readable but also staves off the perception that discourse about UFOs and the CIA must be riddled with conspiratorial paranoia.
—Louis Bury, ARTnews.com, 1 May 2026
Hathaway has the disadvantage of having to play toward a lot of paranoia rather than actually playing with villainy.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for paranoia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paranoia
Noun
-
But the following year, as the pandemic wore on and crime rates ticked up, the politics of criminal justice in the city shifted toward law-and-order anxiety, even as new waves of COVID infection struck the jails.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
War rumbles on Putin, who has ruled Russia as president or prime minister since the last day of 1999, faces a wave of anxiety in Moscow about the war in Ukraine, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people, left swathes of Ukraine in ruins, and drained Russia’s $3 trillion economy.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Accessibility Rooms for those with mobility needs are in place, and the fitness club, pool, spa, and public bathrooms also address accessibility concerns.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Since then, a growing number of cities have opted to further regulate e-bikes, citing a growing number of incidents and safety concerns.—
Hannah Elsmore,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
On May 9th, Silvia and Guojun were arrested on suspicion of child endangerment, and their children were taken into foster care.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Beyond that, the identification of the killer also has allowed families who lived for so long under the dark cloud of suspicion to heal and brought some relief to a woman Gaff attacked before the murders.—
Nina Giraldo,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
In disbelief, Castaneda returned to Texas empty-handed.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
-
Travelers across the country reacted with a mix of disbelief, gratitude and sadness as Spirit Airlines ceased operations, upending plans and marking the end of a carrier that, for many, had become a lifeline for affordable travel.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paranoia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paranoia. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
