Paranoid Meaning
/ˈpæɹ.əˌnɔɪd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf, related to, or suffering from clinical paranoia.
adjExhibiting excessive fear, suspicion, or distrust.
Sentence Examples
Refusing linguistic injustice doesn't make you a paranoid schizophrenic.
I'm not paranoid, they really follow me!
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the robbery, he became so ____ that he checked the locks five times each night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She became increasingly ____ after the break-in, checking the locks multiple times before sleeping.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English paranoia Ancient Greek -ο- (-o-)der. Latin -o- Proto-Indo-European *weyd- Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *wéydos Proto-Hellenic *wéidos Ancient Greek εἶδος (eîdos) Proto-Indo-European *-os Proto-Indo-European *-ēs Ancient Greek -ης (-ēs) Ancient Greek -ειδής (-eidḗs) Latin -oīdēslbor. English -oid English paranoid From paranoia + -oid.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"But can the people on TV see me or am I just paranoid?"
— 1984, Rockwell, “Somebody's Watching Me”:
"People generally want to believe good news, and Max was so paranoid about germs that he'd really love to believe Plum Island was spewing antibiotics and vaccine into the air."
— 2003, Nelson DeMille, Plum Island:
"“As an autocrat, you have to be paranoid. You’re constantly at risk,” he said. “Everyone around you is lying all the time. You never know who is authentically loyal and who is lying to you.”"
— 2026 February 3, Edward Wong, Julian E. Barnes, quoting Marcel Dirsus, “Ruptures in China’s Leadership Could Be Due to Paranoia and Power Plays”, in The New York Times (Politics section), New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 04 Feb 2026:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
After the robbery, he became so ____ that he checked the locks five times each night.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She became increasingly ____ after the break-in, checking the locks multiple times before sleeping.