paranoia

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par·a·noi·a / ˌparəˈnoiə/ • n. a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance, typically elaborated into an organized system. It may be an aspect of chronic personality disorder, of drug abuse, or of a serious condition such as schizophrenia in which the person loses touch with reality. ∎  suspicion and mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification: the global paranoia about hackers and viruses.DERIVATIVES: par·a·noi·ac / -ˈnoi-ak; -ˈnoi-ik/ adj. & n.par·a·noi·a·cal·ly adv.par·a·no·ic / -ˈnoi-ik/ adj.par·a·no·i·cal·ly adv.ORIGIN: early 19th cent.: modern Latin, from Greek, from paranoos ‘distracted,’ from para ‘irregular’ + noos ‘mind.’

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