paranoid

adjective

para·​noid ˈper-ə-ˌnȯid How to pronounce paranoid (audio)
ˌpa-rə-
variants or less commonly paranoidal
1
: characterized by or resembling paranoia or paranoid schizophrenia
a paranoid psychiatric patient
2
: characterized by suspiciousness, persecutory trends, or megalomania
behaving in a paranoid manner with accusations of persecutions
3
: extremely fearful
was so paranoid that he was afraid to walk the streets
paranoid noun

Examples of paranoid in a Sentence

I guess I was just being paranoid. She's a little paranoid about her job. It's nothing more than a paranoid fantasy.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Dominic López Producers: Kelsey Gunn, Dominic López, Nicholas Anthony Reid A paranoid germaphobe escalates his desperate attempts to rid himself of a virus—until his fear leads him to a tragic decision. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2024 In this paranoid techno–thriller, Sara must prove her dreams are not a reality in order to escape. Shannon Carlin, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024 Brian Tyree Henry is in final negotiations to join Julia Roberts, Elizabeth Olsen, and Eddie Redmayne in Panic Carefully, writer-director Sam Esmail’s new paranoid thriller for Warner Bros. Character details are under wraps, as is the logline. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024 Plot and character details are being kept in the hard drive, but the project is described as a paranoid thriller that has tonal influences of Silence of the Lambs and involves the hunt for a cyber terrorist. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for paranoid 

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paranoid was in 1901

Dictionary Entries Near paranoid

Cite this Entry

“Paranoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paranoid. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

paranoid

1 of 2 adjective
para·​noid
ˈpar-ə-ˌnȯid
1
: resembling paranoia
2
: marked especially by suspiciousness, distrust, and feelings of persecution
3
: extremely fearful
grew paranoid about losing her job

paranoid

2 of 2 noun
: one who is paranoid

Medical Definition

paranoid

1 of 2 adjective
para·​noid ˈpar-ə-ˌnȯid How to pronounce paranoid (audio)
variants also paranoidal
1
: characterized by or resembling paranoia or paranoid schizophrenia
2
: characterized by suspiciousness, persecutory trends, or megalomania

paranoid

2 of 2 noun
: one affected with paranoia or paranoid schizophrenia

called also paranoiac

More from Merriam-Webster on paranoid

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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