paranoia

[par-uh-noi-uh] / ˌpær əˈnɔɪ ə /

NOUN

mental illness

Synonyms

STRONGEST

insanity mental disorder

WEAK

crack-up craziness delusions depression derangement disturbed mind emotional disorder emotional instability loss of mind lunacy madness maladjustment mania mental disease mental sickness nervous breakdown nervous disorder neurosis neurotic disorder phobia psychopathy psychosis sick mind troubled mind unbalanced mind unsoundness of mind

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

Jones has a history of paranoia and is believe to have made 13 calls to the FBI this year reporting that he was being threatened and intimidated, according to the complaint.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

If you watched “Battlestar Galactica,” you’d know that was an actual paranoia human survivors had to contend with.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

He later blamed the incident on "paranoia" induced by the medication he was taking.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

I suppose my lifelong paranoia was born in those cold, molasses-slow minutes.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Vocabulary lists containing paranoia

"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury (1950)

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