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
Opponents of fluoridation have played on paranoid fears for decades, but into the 1960s, these were popularly dismissed as ravings from fringe organizations.
—
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
There’s a strict and paranoid president of the residents’ council, a former costume designer to the stars, and plenty more friends and suspects who elicit plenty of laughs.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024
Are the bugs real or the product of Chef’s obsessed, paranoid mind?
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 3 Oct. 2024
Pic follow Vietnam veteran Jonathan Teller, who suffers from guilt and paranoid delusions.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for paranoid 
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.
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
There’s a strict and paranoid president of the residents’ council, a former costume designer to the stars, and plenty more friends and suspects who elicit plenty of laughs.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Nov. 2024
Are the bugs real or the product of Chef’s obsessed, paranoid mind?
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 3 Oct. 2024
Pic follow Vietnam veteran Jonathan Teller, who suffers from guilt and paranoid delusions.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2024
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 2 Dec. 2024.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share