paranoia

American  

[par-uh-noi-uh] / ˌpær əˈnɔɪ ə /

Archaic, paranoea

noun

paranoias plural

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.

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paranoia British  

/ 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

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paranoia Cultural  

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

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Usage

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.

Discover More

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

Derived Forms

• paranoiac
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• paranoias
  plural

Etymology

Origin of paranoia

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

Explanation

Something that happens to a person's thinking can lead to paranoia. You may believe that your friends no longer like you, but it's just that your paranoia makes you suspicious of everyone. Paranoia is from the Greek para-, "beyond, irregular," and noos, "mind." It is an irregularity of the mind, a mental disorder that distorts a person's perception of what is real. Someone with paranoia may believe that other people are out to get them or are watching them all the time. Doctors who treat paranoia look for causes, and while patients can develop the disorder gradually and sometimes due to life circumstances, such as abuse or neglect, the use and abuse of drugs can also cause paranoia.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

paranoia paranoias

"This paranoia and psychosis started kicking in… there was severe anxiety, panic attacks," Lowri, who spent six weeks in a neuropsychiatric hospital, said.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

All of them would later influence “Leviticus”’ visceral atmosphere of romance, paranoia and dread.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

“Eddington” took on pandemic paranoia and our fraying connection to reality.

From Salon ● Jun. 15, 2026

Ms. Arno treats the affair with tact, showing how persecution and paranoia can become entangled without becoming identical.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

One more day of paranoia and hiding and lying.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

It’s an uncanny combination of paranoias and legitimate concerns, but it’s undeniably working.

From Slate ● Sep. 18, 2020

One such illusion is that increasing racial proximity by integrating schools and housing is a good way to break down racial animosities and paranoias.

From New York Times ● Apr. 6, 2020

Kwak explores the nature of plastics — how they can convey both ideas of flexibility and paranoias about contamination — in a solo exhibition that also dwells on queerness and the body.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2020

I think it’s quite similar – we both have some of the same little writing paranoias.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 14, 2017

I remembered the walls made of grain sacks and ammunition boxes, of my father’s fears and paranoias, his scriptures and prophecies.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Related Words

• insanity
• mental disorder