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
One of Nicole Mitchell’s aunts testified that Carol Mitchell’s communications became increasingly paranoid in the months following the death of her husband Rod Mitchell.
—
Ingrid Harbo, Twin Cities, 17 July 2025
Ruiz’s father told San Antonio Express-News that his son had been exhibiting signs of a mental disorder, including having hallucinations and making paranoid accusations, in the days leading up to the stabbing.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 2 July 2025
After his season 4 stint in London, Goldberg (living alongside his wife and son) always has one eye over his shoulder, paranoid that the (literal) skeletons in his closet might soon spill out.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Some artists report losing significant opportunities and having to switch careers because of the genre’s downturn; others are paranoid, unable to discern the real from the hoax.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
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Ingrid Harbo, Twin Cities, 17 July 2025
Ruiz’s father told San Antonio Express-News that his son had been exhibiting signs of a mental disorder, including having hallucinations and making paranoid accusations, in the days leading up to the stabbing.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 2 July 2025
After his season 4 stint in London, Goldberg (living alongside his wife and son) always has one eye over his shoulder, paranoid that the (literal) skeletons in his closet might soon spill out.
—David Wysong, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Some artists report losing significant opportunities and having to switch careers because of the genre’s downturn; others are paranoid, unable to discern the real from the hoax.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 2 July 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 24 Jul. 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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