variants
also paranoidal
as in worried
having extreme or unreasonable fear or suspicion
He was paranoid about break-ins and insisted on checking the locks himself every night.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paranoid
Kissinger was at his best in earning the confidence of Richard Nixon, a world-class paranoid, and in elbowing rivals, Secretary of State William Rogers and Secretary of Defense Jim Schlesinger, from government.
—
Frank McNeil, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2025
Thomas pleads for his sanity in his paranoid whispers, his voice twisting and flopping like a fish on a line.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
Jones had led his followers to Guyana from the U.S., promising them a utopian community, but his leadership became increasingly paranoid and controlling.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2025
Because without them, we are often left with a patient who is terrified, paranoid, screaming, or striking out — and a family that is exhausted, helpless, and scared.
—Dr. Sabooh Mubbashar, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
Frank McNeil, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2025
Thomas pleads for his sanity in his paranoid whispers, his voice twisting and flopping like a fish on a line.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
Jones had led his followers to Guyana from the U.S., promising them a utopian community, but his leadership became increasingly paranoid and controlling.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2025
Because without them, we are often left with a patient who is terrified, paranoid, screaming, or striking out — and a family that is exhausted, helpless, and scared.
—Dr. Sabooh Mubbashar, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paranoid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paranoid
Adjective
-
However, because the pool was shallow, Lisberg was less worried.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
25 May 2025
-
While Herzig is hoping to win a million dollars, his guests are all worried about their own various fantasy teams, mostly competing for a few hundred bucks.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Protect kids, whose skin is especially sensitive to UV damage Be cautious around water and sand, which reflect UV rays and increase exposure Check the UV index in your area for real-time guidance on sun safety To see the entire 2025 Annual Guide to Sunscreens report, click here.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
-
While there's no way to know who will have a reaction to the stings, Suiter says that anyone who carries an Epipen for other stinging insects should be exceptionally cautious.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 May 2025
-
Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
It will be decided on by a conservative-majority Supreme Court that has been skeptical of considerations of race in public life.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2025
-
These regions were often skeptical of centralized power, and reformers pushed for tools like the initiative and referendum to give citizens a way to bypass political machines and corporate influence.—
Jeremy Kohler,
ProPublica,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
The price of gold tends to move when markets get nervous – and so does the gold.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
-
It should also be noted that Demings is more than a little nervous right now about making any public promises about helping to finance a baseball stadium.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paranoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paranoid. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share