What does "paraphrenia" mean?
Any of a group of psychotic illnesses involving delusions, distinct from paranoia and schizophrenia.
Paraphrenia
noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of a group of psychotic illnesses involving delusions, distinct from paranoia and schizophrenia.
- Grammar: paraphrenia is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: double personality, dual personality, paranoia, paranoic type schizophrenia.
How to use "paraphrenia"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "paraphrenia" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "paraphrenia" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "paraphrenia" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "paraphrenia" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "paraphrenia" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "double personality" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use surrounding context as the evidence check, then read your sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "paraphrenia", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of a group of psychotic illnesses involving delusions, distinct from paranoia and schizophrenia. countable, uncountable
- 2 a form of schizophrenia characterized by delusions (of persecution or grandeur or jealousy); symptoms may include anger and anxiety and aloofness and doubts about gender identity; unlike other types of schizophrenia the patients are usually presentable and (if delusions are not acted on) may function in an apparently normal manner wordnet
- 3 The state of being paraphrenic, the most severe form of the mistrustful-paranoid-paraphrenic personality spectrum, related to paranoid personality disorder. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonyms double personalitydual personalityparanoiaparanoic type schizophreniaparanoid schizophreniaparaphrenic schizophrenia
Common questions
What is a synonym for "paraphrenia"?
Common synonyms include: double personality, dual personality, paranoia, paranoic type schizophrenia, paranoid schizophrenia, paraphrenic schizophrenia.
Etymology
From para- + -phrenia.