paranoid
adjective
para·noid
ˈper-ə-ˌnȯid 
ˌpa-rə-
variants
or less commonly paranoidal
ˌper-ə-ˈnȯi-dᵊl
ˌpa-rə-
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
The men are outright paranoid, ducking down alleys or peering out of second-story windows.
—
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
His hysterical and paranoid tenor made this easy to dismiss as excuse-making for his difficulties governing in his first term and his myriad legal problems.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025
But the seven former employees the Observer spoke to, including Canty, described him as a vindictive, paranoid and ego-driven boss.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2025
Breathing fire Angry, vengeful, paranoid, a remorseless bully: These are trademark Carollo traits, according to city employees, two of his daughters, citizens who have argued with him and former allies double-crossed by him.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for paranoid 
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Matt Donnelly, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
His hysterical and paranoid tenor made this easy to dismiss as excuse-making for his difficulties governing in his first term and his myriad legal problems.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025
But the seven former employees the Observer spoke to, including Canty, described him as a vindictive, paranoid and ego-driven boss.
—Ryan Oehrli, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2025
Breathing fire Angry, vengeful, paranoid, a remorseless bully: These are trademark Carollo traits, according to city employees, two of his daughters, citizens who have argued with him and former allies double-crossed by him.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for paranoid
Dictionary Entries Near paranoid
Cite this Entry
“Paranoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paranoid. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
paranoid
1 of 2 adjective
para·noid
ˈpar-ə-ˌnȯid
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
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