paranoiac
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ˌpærəˈnɔɪ.æk/
KK: /ˌpærəˈnɔɪək/
adjective
Definition
Describing someone who has an unreasonable fear or suspicion of others, often thinking that people are out to harm them.
Example
His paranoiac thoughts made it difficult for him to trust anyone around him.
Conversation
Have you noticed how he's been acting lately?
Yeah, he seems a bit paranoiac about everything.
I wonder what’s causing him to feel that way.
It could be the stress from work, but it’s definitely concerning.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
suspicious
distrustful
wary
Antonyms
trusting
confident
naive
noun
Definition
A person who has an unreasonable fear or suspicion of others, often believing that they are being persecuted or harmed.
Example
The paranoiac was convinced that everyone was plotting against him.
Conversation
Have you noticed how sometimes people can be really paranoiac about their privacy?
Yeah, I get that! It can be a bit much sometimes.
Right? It makes me wonder if they have a reason to be so cautious.
Root Explanation
Paranoiac → It is formed from "para-" (meaning beside or beyond) and "noia" (from Greek "noia", meaning mind or thought). The term describes a state of mind that is beyond normal thought, often associated with irrational fears or delusions.
Memory Tip
Think of 'para-' meaning 'beside' or 'beyond' and 'noia' relating to 'mind' — this helps you remember that a paranoiac has thoughts that go beyond normal thinking, often involving irrational fears.
Visually Confused Words
No commonly confused words.