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Despair vs Paranoia - What's the difference?

despair | paranoia |

As nouns the difference between despair and paranoia

is that despair is loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency while paranoia is a psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution.

As a verb despair

is to give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.

despair

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (obsolete) To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
  • * Milton
  • I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted.
  • (obsolete) To cause to despair.
  • To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.
  • * Bible, 2 Corinthians i. 8
  • We despaired even of life.

    Noun

  • Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
  • He turned around in despair , aware that he was not going to survive
  • That which is despaired of.
  • Synonyms

    * desperation * despondency * hopelessness

    Anagrams

    * aspired * diapers * praised

    paranoia

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (qualifier)

    Noun

    (wikipedia paranoia) (en noun)
  • A psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution.
  • Extreme, irrational distrust of others.
  • Derived terms

    * paranoiac * paranoic * paranoically * paranoid * paranoid schizophrenia

    References

    * “ ?Paranoia, paranœa]” listed on page 460 of volume VII (O, P) of '' [1st ed., 1909]
    ???Paranoia''' ( mind.]?Mental derangement; ''spec.'' chronic mental unsoundness characterized by delusions or hallucinations, esp. of grandeur, persecution, etc.?[¶; 4 quots.: 1857, 1891, 1892, 1899; ¶]?Hence '''Paranoi·ac, -œ·ac,''' a. ''adj.'' afflicted with paranoia; b. ''sb.''; also '''Parano·ic, -nœ·ic ''a.
    ?[¶; 3 quots.: 1857, 1892, 1899 ----