paranoia

Archaic, par·a·noe·a

[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

/ ˌpærəˈnɔɪɪk, ˌpærəˈnəʊɪk, ˌpærəˈnɔɪə /

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.

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.

Other Word Forms

• paranoiac adjective

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

The country, he said in an email interview, was “inflamed by military fervor…and then by paranoia,” which caused “severe damage to democracy.”

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“It was paranoia, the perception that this violence was unstoppable, that really sent the nation spiraling toward Civil War in 1860 and ’61.”

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Where their previous albums were firmly rooted in Ireland, Romance was inspired by the neon lights of Tokyo and classic Japanese animation Akira, whose themes of nuclear era paranoia inform the band's nervy guitar anthems.

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Even if America’s moral and psychological center has shifted closer to their neighbor Dale Gribble’s paranoia flood zone, Hank and Peggy’s hasn’t.

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The song that launched Osbourne's solo career, it's almost atypically upbeat - shrugging off Cold War paranoia and declaring: "Maybe it's not too late to learn how to love."

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Related Words

• insanity 
• mental disorder 

When To Use

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.