Paranoia

Pronunciation: /pærəˈnɔɪə/

Definitions of paranoia

noun a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance

Example Sentences

A1 She has a paranoia about germs and always carries hand sanitizer.

A2 His paranoia about strangers made him avoid crowded places.

B1 Her paranoia about losing her job led her to work extra hours.

B2 The politician's paranoia about being spied on by rivals affected his decision-making.

C1 The CEO's paranoia about leaks to the press led to strict security measures in the company.

C2 The artist's paranoia about plagiarism caused her to keep her work under tight lock and key.

Examples of paranoia in a Sentence

formal The patient's paranoia led to severe anxiety and delusions.

informal Her paranoia about germs makes her wash her hands constantly.

slang Don't feed into his paranoia, he's just overthinking things.

figurative The politician's paranoia about losing power is evident in his actions.

Grammatical Forms of paranoia

• plural: paranoias
• comparative: more paranoid
• superlative: most paranoid
• present tense: paranoid
• future tense: will be paranoid
• perfect tense: has been paranoid
• continuous tense: is being paranoid
• singular: paranoia
• positive degree: paranoid
• infinitive: to be paranoid
• gerund: being paranoid
• participle: paranoid

Origin and Evolution of paranoia

First Known Use: 1909 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'paranoia' has its origins in Greek, derived from 'paranoos' meaning 'beside oneself'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in a medical context to describe a mental disorder characterized by delusions of persecution or grandeur, the term 'paranoia' has since evolved to also refer to a general sense of distrust or suspicion towards others.