Meaning
A psychotic disorder, now called delusional disorder, often (in one of six subtypes) characterized by delusions of persecution and a perceived threat against the individual affected with the disorder, and often associated with false accusations and a general mistrust of others.
Etymology
Origin: Ancient Greek
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek παράνοια (paránoia, “madness”), from παράνοος (paránoos, “demented”), from παρά (pará, “beyond, beside”) + νόος (nóos, “mind, spirit”). By surface analysis, para- (“abnormal, beyond”) + nous (“mind”) + -ia (“(medical) condition”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
paranoidismdisconnectiondissociationinsanitymaladjustmentmelancholianeurosiscatatoniadepersonalizationhebephrenia
Antonyms
pronoia
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle: