paranoia
Meaning: An irrational and persistent feeling that other people are plotting against you or intending harm; in clinical use, a mental condition characterised by delusions of persecution.
Paranoia ranges from mild everyday suspicion to severe clinical paranoid delusions. In psychiatric contexts, it is a feature of several conditions including paranoid personality disorder and schizophrenia. In colloquial English, people often use the word loosely to describe general anxiety or suspicion, as in 'I'm paranoid about losing my keys.' The adjective 'paranoid' is more common than the noun in everyday speech.
Examples
- His paranoia about being followed intensified after the break-in at his flat. 自从住所被闯入后,他对被跟踪的偏执感加剧了。Su paranoia de ser seguido se intensificó tras el asalto a su piso.自宅への侵入事件の後、彼の尾行されているという偏執的な不安はさらに強まりました。자택 침입 사건 이후 미행당하고 있다는 그의 편집증은 더욱 심해졌다.
- The regime's paranoia led to the surveillance of thousands of ordinary citizens. 该政权的偏执导致了对数千名普通公民的监控。La paranoia del régimen llevó a la vigilancia de miles de ciudadanos corrientes.その政権のパラノイアは、何千人もの一般市民の監視につながりました。그 정권의 편집증은 수천 명의 일반 시민에 대한 감시로 이어졌다.
- A degree of paranoia about data security is perfectly healthy in the digital age. 在数字时代,对数据安全保持一定程度的警惕是完全合理的。Un cierto grado de paranoia respecto a la seguridad de los datos es perfectamente saludable en la era digital.デジタル時代において、データセキュリティに対するある程度の警戒心は全く健全なことです。디지털 시대에 데이터 보안에 대해 어느 정도의 경계심을 갖는 것은 지극히 건전한 일이다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, professional, media
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Greek paranoia (madness, distraction), from paranoos (demented), combining para- (beside, beyond) and noos (mind). Entered English in the early 19th century as a clinical term.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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