paranoia

IPA/ˌpærəˈnɔɪə/
KK[pˌɛrənˈɔɪə]IPA/ˌpærəˈnɔɪə/

paranoia — noun

  • paranoiasingular
  • paranoiasplural

1. A mental state in which a person holds strong but false beliefs that other peopl

1.名詞B2
釋義

A mental state in which a person holds strong but false beliefs that other people are being unfriendly, secretly judging them, or planning to harm them, despite a total lack of supporting evidence for these fears.

例句

Eitan's paranoia about his coworkers made him refuse to eat lunch with them.

paranoia about + noun phrase

The long hours and workplace gossip fed a growing sense of paranoia among the staff.

collocation: sense of paranoia / feed paranoia

同義詞
  • suspicion

    weaker and more neutral; can be reasonable or unreasonable

  • mistrust

    focuses on lack of trust rather than fear of harm

  • persecution complex

    more specialised; specifically the delusional belief that one is being targeted

反義詞
  • trust

    belief in the reliability or honesty of others

文法句型

paranoia about + noun/gerund

paranoia that + clause

用法筆記

In everyday conversation this sense describes unfounded suspicion that is less severe than a clinical diagnosis. Can be followed by 'that-clause' or 'about.'

常見錯誤

❌He has paranoia about losing his keys once.
✅He was worried about losing his keys once.
💡Paranoia describes a lasting or repeated belief pattern, not a single worry.
❌She was diagnosed with paranoia of spiders.
✅She was diagnosed with paranoia (meaning the mental condition).
💡In the everyday sense, use 'paranoia about' for the object of the suspicion.

2. A serious mental health condition in which a person experiences fixed false beli

2.名詞C1
釋義

A serious mental health condition in which a person experiences fixed false beliefs (delusions), most often that others are following them, plotting secretly against them, or trying to cause them physical or psychological harm, to the point where they cannot function in normal daily life.

例句

The patient was hospitalised after his paranoia convinced him that his neighbours were government agents.

clinical register: paranoia as a diagnosed condition

Haruto's family finally persuaded him to see a psychiatrist when his paranoia prevented him from leaving the house.

paranoia preventing normal functioning

同義詞
  • delusional disorder

    a broader diagnostic category that includes paranoia among other delusion types

  • psychosis

    a more general term for loss of contact with reality; paranoia is one possible symptom

文法句型

paranoia + verb

diagnosed with paranoia

be treated for paranoia

用法筆記

In medical use, this sense describes a diagnosed condition involving fixed delusions, distinct from the milder everyday use. Frequently co-occurs with terms like 'schizophrenia,' 'delusional disorder,' 'psychosis.'

常見錯誤

❌She has a mild case of paranoia (meaning she is a little suspicious).
✅She is a little suspicious or slightly paranoid.
💡The clinical term should not be used casually in medical contexts; use 'paranoid' as an adjective for milder everyday suspicion.
❌Paranoia is when you think someone is following you.
✅Paranoia is a mental health condition in which a person has fixed false beliefs, such as thinking someone is following them.
💡The casual definition undersells the severity and persistence.