paranoia

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˌpærəˈnɔɪə/ 🇺🇸 /ˌpɛrəˈnɔɪə/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance, typically elaborated into an organized system.; An irrational and persistent feeling of being threatened, persecuted, or conspired against, even in the absence of evidence.; A general atmosphere of fear, suspicion, or distrust within a group or society.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

suffer from paranoiabordering on paranoiaa sense of paranoiaparanoia aboutfuel paranoiadescend into paranoia

Derivatives

paranoidparanoiacparanoically

Synonyms

suspiciondistrustmistrustpersecution complexwariness

Antonyms

trustconfidence

Commonly confused

paranoid
EN: 'Paranoid' is the adjective (or informal noun for a person); 'paranoia' is the noun for the condition itself.
phobia
EN: 'Phobia' refers to an irrational fear of something specific; 'paranoia' refers to irrational suspicion or distrust of others.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the 'oi' diphthong in the middle (para-noi-a) and the '-ia' ending, not just '-a'.

💬 Examples

  1. The patient was diagnosed with paranoia after exhibiting persistent delusions of being followed.

  2. His paranoia made him suspect that everyone in the office was plotting against him.

  3. The political paranoia of the Cold War era led to widespread accusations of espionage.