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 senior senator from Wisconsin, Republican Ron Johnson, is posing fresh questions about the deadliest attack on the United States in history, feeding into paranoid and dangerous conspiracy theories.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
Eva clocks their conversation as extremely paranoid, and Kyle's attempt at smoothing things over with David only prompts David to start up all over again.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Tomlin and Midler more than capably carry the film — Tomlin is especially wonderful as the deeply paranoid Rose.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Unfortunately, such fleshing out always brings charges of political manipulation from the uninformed or paranoid.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2025
Eva clocks their conversation as extremely paranoid, and Kyle's attempt at smoothing things over with David only prompts David to start up all over again.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Tomlin and Midler more than capably carry the film — Tomlin is especially wonderful as the deeply paranoid Rose.
—Barry Levitt, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Unfortunately, such fleshing out always brings charges of political manipulation from the uninformed or paranoid.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 16 Mar. 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 1 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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