Paranoia
Delusions of persecution
Paranoia is irrational suspicion or distrust of others—the persistent sense that people are hostile, deceptive, or conspiring against you.
In psychiatry, paranoia describes a symptom of certain mental disorders involving delusions of persecution.
In casual use, it often means excessive worry or anxiety about potential threats: My paranoia about identity theft keeps me off social media.
Paranoid is the adjective.
Stubbornly held false belief
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- mistrustLack of faith
hypervigilance · irrational · obsession · intrusive thoughts · psychosis · schizophrenia · hallucination · conspiracy
Informal talk spreading rumors
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
backstabbing · distrust · overthinking · rejection · manipulation · gaslighting · toxic · suspicion
Systematic observation of subjects
- Big BrotherTotalitarian surveillance authority
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
- dissentDisagreement with authority
- secret policeClandestine state security apparatus
informant · wiretapping · censorship · state control · McCarthyism · blacklist · witch hunt · monitoring
Suspense-driven narrative genre
- noirHard-boiled film genre
- conspiracy theoryAttributed to hidden plotters
- tinfoil hatAlleged telepathy shield
- deep stateCovert governmental power structure
Hitchcock · cover-up · whistleblower · Area 51 · Illuminati · shadowy · hidden agenda · distrust
Freedom from observation
- hackingInfiltrating protected digital systems
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- data breachUnauthorized access to protected information
- spywareHidden surveillance program
encryption · cookies · metadata · identity theft · phishing · cybersecurity · password · VPN
delusion
Stubbornly held false belief
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
mistrust · hypervigilance · irrational · obsession · intrusive thoughts · psychosis · schizophrenia · hallucination · conspiracy · defensiveness
gossip
Informal talk spreading rumors
- betrayalBreaking of trust
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
exclusion · backstabbing · distrust · overthinking · rejection · manipulation · gaslighting · toxic · suspicion · reputation
surveillance
Systematic observation of subjects
- Big BrotherTotalitarian surveillance authority
- totalitarianismState controls everything absolutely
- dissentDisagreement with authority
secret police · informant · wiretapping · censorship · state control · McCarthyism · blacklist · witch hunt · monitoring · whistleblower
thriller
Suspense-driven narrative genre
- noirHard-boiled film genre
- conspiracy theoryAttributed to hidden plotters
- tinfoil hatAlleged telepathy shield
Hitchcock · deep state · cover-up · whistleblower · Area 51 · Illuminati · shadowy · hidden agenda · distrust · red pill
privacy
Freedom from observation
- hackingInfiltrating protected digital systems
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- data breachUnauthorized access to protected information
spyware · encryption · cookies · metadata · identity theft · phishing · cybersecurity · password · VPN · anonymity
- tabletop RPGsD&D, sourcebook, dungeon master, game master, DM
- thrillerssuspense, thriller, nail-biter, page-turner, cliffhanger
Paranoiatrust
Confidence in another
trustfulness · faith · naivety · credulity · openness
Paranoiapeace of mind
State without anxiety
security · serenity · inner peace · equanimity · tranquility
Paranoialevel-headedness
Balanced, rational temperament
prudence · reasonable suspicion · sound judgment · clear-sightedness · discernment
- paranoid schizophreniaPsychotic disorder with delusions
- paranoid thrillerSuspense genre featuring distrust
- paranoid androidMachine with persecution complex