Kevin
January 30, 2023
Common Questions

Do you ever feel as though people are “out to get you” or that you’re the subject of persistent, intrusive attention by others?

Although it’s normal to sometimes feel a bit wary of others, an intense feeling of mistrust that interferes with daily functioning can be a sign of paranoid personality disorder (PPD).

What does “paranoid” mean, you ask? We’ll tell you. Read on as we explore the word paranoid and uncover its definition, origin, and more.

What Is the Definition of Paranoid?

/ˈper.ə.nɔɪd/ /ˈpær.ən.ɔɪd/ /pærənɔɪd/ /ˈpærəˌnɔɪd/

The Collins English Dictionary tells us that paranoid can be used as both a noun as well as an adjective, and below, you will find the definition on both uses of our word of the day:

Adjective — characterized by delusions of persecution, extreme suspiciousness, and/or anxiety

Adjective — (in relation to psychiatry) affected with, relating to, or having characteristics of paranoia.

Noun —an individual that is affected by or suffering from paranoia

Adjective — characterized by or exhibiting an irrational, as well as an extreme distrust and downright fear of others

Simply stated, the meaning of paranoid is having illusions about being persecuted or followed, being overly suspicious of everything and everyone around you, and/or always being afraid of others and being unable to trust anyone but yourself.

Paranoia and Mental Health

In addition, “paranoid,” or more aptly put — paranoia — can be one of the various symptoms of serious mental health problems, such as:

PPD or Paranoid Personality Disorder
Delusional Disorder
Paranoid Schizophrenia

Symptoms of paranoia can include:

Being hostile, defensive, and/or aggressive
More often than not, one is easily offended
Lack of the ability to confide and/or trust others around you
Reading into a person’s normal behavior and trying to find hidden meanings
The inability to forgive, accept criticism and/or compromise
Having trouble letting your guard down or relaxing; believing that, above all, you are always right

What Is the Word Origin of Paranoid?

Paranoid was first noted in 1901 as an adjective when it was irregularly formed from paranoi + -oid, and it was not until 1922 that it was used as a noun to describe a “paranoid person.”

What Are the Synonyms and Antonyms of Paranoid?

A great way to expand your understanding of a new word is by reviewing its synonyms and antonyms.

A synonym is a word or expression that means the same — or nearly the same — as another word or expression, whereas an antonym is a word opposite in meaning to another.

The Synonyms of Paranoid

Synonyms of paranoid include:

Overcareful
Overcautious
Judicious
Provident
Shrewd
Thoughtful
Discriminating
Forethoughtful
Precautious
Loath
On your toes
With eyes peeled
On the watch
Running hot and cold
Hedging your bets
Territorial
Not sure
Worried
Skittish
Unsatisfied
Suspect
Not believing
Solicitous
Unenlightened
Mad as the march fairies
Timid
Narrow-minded
Unimpressed
Unmoved
Unpersuaded
Vexed
Confused
Curious
Misbelieving
Inquisitive
Minimifidian
Non-believing
Pussyfooting
Squeamish
Dainty
Have misgivings
Have reservations
Unassured
Not quite right in the head
Awake
Perceptive
A few sandwiches short of a picnic
Prying
Wishy-washy
Unfinished
Non-compos mentis
Pendent
Inquisitorial
Nosy
Interrogative
In the middle searching
Out of one’s mind
Disillusioned
Disenchanted
World-weary
Hard-bitten
Ambiguous
Having qualms
Hard-boiled
Non-committal
Keeping a weather eye on
Walking on eggs
Belt-and-braces
On the qui vive
Watching one’s step
Watching out
All ears
Walking on eggshells
Thinking twice
Keeping on one’s toes
Handling with kid gloves
Taking it slow
Afraid
Averse
A few cards short of a full deck
Disinclined
Not the full shilling
Parsimonious
Stingy
Thrifty
Inhibited
Not quite right in the head
Chancy
Dicey
Up in the air
Erratic
Paranoiac
Capricious
Whimsical
In the balance
Fluctuant
Touch-and-go
Incalculable
In the lap of the gods
Problematic
Risky

Antonyms of Paranoid

Antonyms of paranoid include:

Trusting
Sane
Unshaken
Unruffled
Unperturbed
Balanced
Rational
Sensible
In one’s right mind
Compos mentis
Adjusted
Believable
Realistic
Responsible
Smart
Level headed
Well balanced
Together
All there
Alert
Stable
Thick-skinned
Callous
Heartless
Stolid
Uninvolved
Uninterested
Open-minded
Unanxious
Unstirred
Unbothered

How Can You Use The Word Paranoid in a Sentence?

Our word of the day can be characterized by or resembling paranoia, but how can it be used in a sentence? Here are a few sentence examples for you to review below:

“It’s really all starting to make sense, with how my brother has acted all these years. He finally reached out to a mental health professional and was diagnosed with a mental health condition known as PPD or paranoid personality disorder.”

“The aggressor was diagnosed by multiple psychiatrists as a paranoid schizophrenic and will likely plead insanity in his case.”

“My daughter keeps having bouts of psychosis and is constantly struggling with paranoid thoughts, and I have no clue how to help her.”

“I don’t mean to seem anxious… after Sam’s traumatic kidnapping from last year, I can’t help but feel paranoid every time I get into an Uber.”

“Don’t be paranoid — you’re in good company; I promise.”

“If Jenny gets a bad grade on her exam, her parents won’t let her go to Cancun… so she’ll probably be paranoid until the scores are out.”

“Look; I’m perfectly sane…I am just feeling a little paranoid that someone is watching me, okay?”

What Are Translations of Paranoid?

Now that you understand the meaning and origin behind our word of the day, let’s review a few translations, shall we?

Translations of paranoid include:

Afrikaans — Paranoïes
Arabic — المذعور
Bulgarian — Параноик
Chinese (simplified) — 偏执
Croatian — Paranoičan
Czech — paranoidní
Danish — Paranoid
Dutch — paranoïde
Finnish — paranoidinen
French — paranoïaque
German — paranoid
Greek — παρανοϊκός
Italian — paranoico
Japanese — 妄想
Korean — 편집성
American English — paranoid
Norwegian — Paranoid
Polish — paranoidalna
Portuguese — paranóico
Russian — параноидальный
Spanish — paranoide
British English — paranoid
Swedish — paranoid
Thai — หวาดระแวง
Turkish — Paranoyak
Ukrainian — Параноїдальний
Vietnamese — Paranoid

Conclusion

To sum it all up, a paranoid person suffers from paranoia and can be described as someone with an absurd and almost obsessive distrust and suspicion of others, as well as being highly irrational.

Sources:

Paranoid definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD): Symptoms & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic

Mistrustful and Misunderstood: A Review of Paranoid Personality Disorder | PMC

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.