paranoia

noun/ˌpærəˈnɔɪə/

Frequency rank: #8,413 most common English word

Meaning

an irrational and persistent feeling that one is being persecuted or that others have hostile intentions toward oneself.

Illustration for the English word “paranoia”

Example sentence

After weeks of isolation, he began to experience paranoia and suspected everyone around him of plotting against him.

Synonyms & related words

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