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 Democrats have no rival to Trump, a master of propaganda whose face, voice and paranoid social media posts are everywhere all the time.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
That’s too bad for several reasons, including Lee’s meticulous reconstruction of Hong Kong and Shanghai under Japanese occupation, paranoid, perilous places in which anyone could be working with the occupying forces or conspiring against them.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
Now, per the comic’s description, Cark will trek from Studio City to Venice Beach and onward into the paranoid sprawl of 21st-century Los Angeles, called to investigate his greatest mystery yet: himself.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025
Living alongside his wife and son, Goldberg has one eye over his shoulder always, paranoid the (literal) skeletons in his closet might soon spill out.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
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Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
That’s too bad for several reasons, including Lee’s meticulous reconstruction of Hong Kong and Shanghai under Japanese occupation, paranoid, perilous places in which anyone could be working with the occupying forces or conspiring against them.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
Now, per the comic’s description, Cark will trek from Studio City to Venice Beach and onward into the paranoid sprawl of 21st-century Los Angeles, called to investigate his greatest mystery yet: himself.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025
Living alongside his wife and son, Goldberg has one eye over his shoulder always, paranoid the (literal) skeletons in his closet might soon spill out.
—Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 10 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 29 Mar. 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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