paranoia

[par-uh-noi-uh] / ˌpær əˈnɔɪ ə /

NOUN

mental illness

Synonyms

STRONGEST

insanity mental disorder

WEAK

crack-up craziness delusions depression derangement disturbed mind emotional disorder emotional instability loss of mind lunacy madness maladjustment mania mental disease mental sickness nervous breakdown nervous disorder neurosis neurotic disorder phobia psychopathy psychosis sick mind troubled mind unbalanced mind unsoundness of mind

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My working theory is that they tap into audiences with a preexisting suspicion that the world is wicked — they prove paranoia to be well-founded.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

"There's paranoia around AI in every industry," said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

We’ve also reached a point in the season at which previous groups of Traitors turned on each other for reasons similar to those that do in tyrannical cabals: mutual envy, paranoia and greed.

From Salon • Jan. 28, 2026

Whispers and doubts will be circulating all over Beijing and at every level of party and army leadership, checked only by the paranoia of officials fearing for their careers and lives.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

More paranoia, he chided himself, trudging along the pathway that led from the football field to the gym.

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Vocabulary lists containing paranoia

"The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury (1950)

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