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paranoia

ˌper-ə-ˈnȯi-ə 4 syllables uncommon

  1. noun.mental illness characterized by systematized delusions of persecution or grandeur usually without hallucinations

    • Psychotic symptoms and paranoia persisted, and she continued to "find clues" of conspiracy against her.
    • … Arthur Miller dramatized the ways that a society's paranoia and fear during periods of uncertainty and change can turn into a witch hunt.
  2. noun.a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others

Origin

New Latin, from Greek, madness, from paranous demented, from para- + nous mind.

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