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
Last week, Fox News Digital released video footage of a Kentucky State Police (KSP) investigator and two troopers questioning a paranoid Stines in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
—
Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
The government’s determination to wrap the matter up neatly relegated the bulk of voters to the paranoid fringe.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Iris is Stefani’s grandmother, who has turned into a paranoid loner living in a rural fortified compound only the Unabomber could love.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Saw is clearly growing more paranoid, and accuses Mon of sending spies after him before cutting off communication.
—Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
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Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
The government’s determination to wrap the matter up neatly relegated the bulk of voters to the paranoid fringe.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
Iris is Stefani’s grandmother, who has turned into a paranoid loner living in a rural fortified compound only the Unabomber could love.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2025
Saw is clearly growing more paranoid, and accuses Mon of sending spies after him before cutting off communication.
—Michileen Martin, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
Cite this Entry
“Paranoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paranoid. Accessed 29 May. 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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