as in anxiety
a feeling that one does not know the whole truth or that someone else is not being truthful
Each half of the unhappy couple was constantly wracked with paranoia that the other was cheating.
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Recent Examples of paranoia
Before Cohen was sentenced, the granddaughter, who has not been publicly identified, told the judge that she has been wracked by fear and paranoia since the threats began in 2023, according to the Inquirer.
—
Kc Baker, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Melissa tells Shauna that, after learning about adult Natalie’s death on the grounds of Lottie’s doomed cult, she became consumed with guilt and paranoia; after all, her own wife doesn’t know that Melissa knew her mother, let alone probably witnessed her death.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Mar. 2025
Intuitions, with shape-shifting qualities akin to those of paranoias or fantasies, are not always defensible, rarely unassailable.
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
This is especially true on the right, where pessimism and paranoia about technology, not long ago largely the province of the left, have spread on the heels of the pandemic and efforts to police speech on social media platforms.
—Charles Homans, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoia
Kc Baker, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Melissa tells Shauna that, after learning about adult Natalie’s death on the grounds of Lottie’s doomed cult, she became consumed with guilt and paranoia; after all, her own wife doesn’t know that Melissa knew her mother, let alone probably witnessed her death.
—Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Mar. 2025
Intuitions, with shape-shifting qualities akin to those of paranoias or fantasies, are not always defensible, rarely unassailable.
—Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
This is especially true on the right, where pessimism and paranoia about technology, not long ago largely the province of the left, have spread on the heels of the pandemic and efforts to police speech on social media platforms.
—Charles Homans, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoia
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paranoia
Noun
-
Consumer sentiment fell sharply in April, marking the fourth consecutive month of declines, as an intensifying trade war fueled anxiety over American jobs and rising inflation.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
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Is loyalty to an old friend and/or anxiety about having a kid reason enough to spend a day or two away from a wife who could go into labor at any minute?—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That’s a major concern for media as advertisers review budgets.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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Now, in the case of the United States, there’s no concern whatsoever with what anybody thinks on the outside.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Panicked at the thought of Kamilla, his closest (and secret) ally leaving the game, Kyle desperately tried to convince others to vote for Chrissy instead, raising David's eyebrows and planting suspicion of an undercover alliance.—
Emily DeLetter,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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An aide to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is out on leave and ushered out of the Pentagon for suspicion of leaking.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In response to the verdict, Soulja Boy released a formal statement expressing his discontent and disbelief.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Any author must suspend disbelief at least as much as their readers, and the key to writing for teens is to treat their experiences as valid and important.—
Charlie Jane Anders,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paranoia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paranoia. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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