paranoia

[ par-uh-noi-uh ]

noun

1. Psychiatry. a mental disorder characterized by systematized delusions and the projection of personal conflicts, which are ascribed to the supposed hostility of others, sometimes progressing to disturbances of consciousness and aggressive acts believed to be performed in self-defense or as a mission.
2. baseless or excessive suspicion of the motives of others.

paranoia

/ ˌpærəˈnɔɪə; ˌpærəˈnɔɪɪk; ˌpærəˈnəʊɪk /

noun

1. a form of schizophrenia characterized by a slowly progressive deterioration of the personality, involving delusions and often hallucinations
2. a mental disorder characterized by any of several types of delusions, in which the personality otherwise remains relatively intact
3. informal.
   intense fear or suspicion, esp when unfounded

paranoia

1. A form of psychosis marked by delusions of persecution and of grandeur. One who suffers from paranoia is paranoid.

Notes

In popular terminology, a “paranoid” personality is characterized by suspicion and distrust of others; a tendency to look for hidden meaning behind other people's actions; argumentativeness; complaining; low tolerance for criticism; and a constant display of one's own talents, accomplishments, independence, and rationality.

Derived Forms

• paranoiac, adjectivenoun

Word History and Origins

Origin of paranoia¹

First recorded in 1805–15; from New Latin, from Greek paránoia “madness,” from paráno(os) “demented” (equivalent to para- ¹ + nous ) + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of paranoia¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek: frenzy, from paranoos distraught, from para- ¹+ noos mind

Example Sentences

What's new, in a state that has employed all-mail voting since 2014, is paranoia about the count and results.

From Washington Post

That anxiety runs deep, even if the historical data doesn’t quite back up the paranoia.

From Fortune

Ghost tours capitalize on this hereditary paranoia by forcing the mind to wrestle with ambiguity.

From Popular-Science

The Red Scare injected paranoia into American culture, inducing a paralyzing dread at the prospect of Communist infiltration.

From Washington Blade

Following a Joe Rogan podcast appearance a few years back where McInnes talked of the Proud Boys as a gang and dropped the above “I want violence” line, there were dark murmurings and paranoia that the group had started to appear on the FBI’s radar.

From Ozy

Such was the corrosive paranoia of the time, fueled by McCarthy and abetted by Hoover.

From The Daily Beast

Against this paranoia of recent history, Frank takes the long view that all disasters and destruction are natural.

From The Daily Beast

But fear of something that is not actually a threat is not rightful fear, but rather paranoia.

From The Daily Beast

Those who dream of a post-partisan future should note that paranoia has a habit of erasing traditional political boundaries.

From The Daily Beast

That, in the absence of an explanation as to why, paranoia takes over.

From The Daily Beast

Paranoia, as it is called, mild delusional insanity, may assert itself and then may persist for the rest of life.

From Project Gutenberg

The most significant consideration with regard to paranoia is the fact that it is practically always hereditary.

From Project Gutenberg

After the persecutory stage in paranoia, comes the third, or so-called expansive period of the disease.

From Project Gutenberg

There are usually three stages of paranoia described by authorities in mental diseases.

From Project Gutenberg

Krafft-Ebing said that he never saw a case of true and reasonably well developed paranoia without hereditary taint.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• insanity
• mental disorder

About This Word

What does paranoia mean?

Paranoia is a mental disorder characterized by delusions and feelings of extreme distrust, suspicion, and being targeted by others.

Paranoia is also commonly used more generally to mean extreme suspicion or irrational distrust of others. It’s important to understand that while paranoia is used generally outside of its psychiatric usage in a way that makes it seem less serious, having paranoia is a major symptom of disorders like paranoid schizophrenia and paranoid personality disorder.

The adjective paranoid can be used to describe a person, action, or thought that exhibits paranoia.

A rare alternate spelling for the word is paranoea.

Example: Locking my doors at night isn’t a sign of paranoia—it just means I’m being cautious.

Where does paranoia come from?

The first records of the word paranoia used in a general way come from around the 1950s, but its use in the context of psychology is recorded much earlier. It derives from the Greek paránoia, meaning “madness.” Paranoia is formed from para-, meaning “abnormal” or “defective,” and nous, meaning “mind.”

Most people understand the concept of what it means for a person to have paranoia: their fear is heightened, they sense danger everywhere, and they feel like everyone is conspiring against them. While most people may have had similar feelings at one time or another, people who have been diagnosed with paranoia, such as paranoid personality disorder and paranoid schizophrenia, experience them to an extreme degree, sometimes in the form of delusions. Such delusions often focus on what’s perceived as constant persecution from others. Still, both paranoia and paranoid are very commonly used in a more general way that is usually negative.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to paranoia?

• paranoea (rare alternate spelling)
• paranoid (adjective)
• paranoiac (noun, adjective)
• paranoeac (noun, adjective)

What are some words that share a root or word element with paranoia? 

 

• metanoia
• paralexia

What are some words that often get used in discussing paranoia?

• disorder
• mental illness
• suspicion
• distrust
• fear
• persecution
• schizophrenia
• personality

How is paranoia used in real life?

Paranoia is a formal psychiatric term, but it is commonly used in a more general or casual way.

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Just because you can not see the sickness doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Anxiety, depression, paranoia they all exist.
Having suffered myself with depression I can relate to the people who suffer with it. 🙌🏼❤#depression

— Shaz Malik (@shaz_Insafiyan) June 14, 2020

When you're not sure whether you're paranoid* that someone doesn't want to be friends anymore or whether they don't don't want to be friends for real.

Fight the mental health stigma: talk.

*I was diagnosed with paranoia. Not being ableist. My term.

— Mia Siegert – tell me to sign out & finish my book (@MiaSiegert) January 15, 2019

i try my best not to live in fear, but man… there’s an eerie type of paranoia that comes from being both Black & a woman.

— things are getting weird. (@yagirlaley) June 15, 2020