n. 1. Irrational distrust or suspicion of others, especially as occurring in people with psychiatric disorders such as paranoid personality disorder and schizophrenia: paranoia about neighbors stealing from his vegetable garden. 2. Intense anxiety or worry: paranoia about losing her job. [Greek, madness, from paranoos, demented : para-, beyond; see PARA-1 + nous, noos, mind.] |
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