variants
also paranoidal
as in worried
having extreme or unreasonable fear or suspicion
He was paranoid about break-ins and insisted on checking the locks himself every night.
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 paranoid
Bud also becomes increasingly paranoid about the comings and goings of his wife.
—
Niela Orr, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Namir Smallwood stars opposite Coon as Peter, a paranoid former soldier and mysterious drifter who meets her character Agnes, a lonely waitress.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Eventually Nina grows paranoid, losing her grip on what’s real and what’s not.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Alice is paranoid, thinking her roommate is rearranging her shower supplies and that someone might be poisoning her food.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
Niela Orr, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Namir Smallwood stars opposite Coon as Peter, a paranoid former soldier and mysterious drifter who meets her character Agnes, a lonely waitress.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Eventually Nina grows paranoid, losing her grip on what’s real and what’s not.
—Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Alice is paranoid, thinking her roommate is rearranging her shower supplies and that someone might be poisoning her food.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paranoid
Adjective
-
When Edmond LaFave missed two days of work in February 1975, a worried friend headed to his North Park home to check on him.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
His family was worried sick, and Jones said Johnson had stormed out of the home after an argument.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The anticipated move would end a string of three consecutive quarter-point rate cuts, aligning with a cautious approach outlined by Powell last month, before reports of the investigation into his conduct.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Still, more cautious analysts have flagged weaker activity in China.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Drivers were advised to be careful in the snow, as there were problems on area roadways.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Publicly, both leaders had maintained careful language about Syria’s transition, emphasizing concerns for minority rights, human rights standards, and the need for inclusive governance.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Guardian also reported that Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, initially skeptical about engaging with senior figures from Maduro’s inner circle, came to see Rodríguez’s assurances as a potential way to prevent instability following Maduro’s removal.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The women are very skeptical of Amanda.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While the money is flowing, state officials are still nervous.—
Miquéla V Thornton,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The atmosphere at the Emirates was nervous, too, and their next two opponents — Leeds (away) and Sunderland (home) — will give no quarter.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paranoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paranoid. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
