# paranoia

/ˌpɛɹəˈnɔɪə/ (US) · /pˈæɹənˌɔɪɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paranoia
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. irrational distrust

noun · CEFR B2

an extreme and unreasonable feeling that other people do not like you or are trying to harm you.

For teachers: an intense, irrational suspicion or mistrust of others, often involving the belief that one is being targeted or persecuted.

- His paranoia made him believe that his colleagues were talking about him behind his back.
- The dictator's growing paranoia led him to isolate himself from even his most loyal advisors, fearing a coup at every turn.

### 2. medical disorder

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a serious mental illness where a person has false beliefs that others are threatening them.

For teachers: a clinical condition, historically classified as a psychotic disorder, characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur.

- The doctor explained that the patient's paranoia was a symptom of a deeper medical issue.
- Clinical paranoia is distinguished from general anxiety by the presence of fixed, false beliefs that remain resistant to contradictory evidence.

Usage: In modern clinical contexts, this is often referred to as delusional disorder.

## Examples

- His paranoia made him think the neighbors were spying on him.
- The celebrity's paranoia grew so intense that she refused to leave her house without three bodyguards.
- The political climate of the era was defined by a pervasive paranoia, where even minor disagreements were interpreted as evidence of a deep-seated conspiracy against the state.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.