alarming

1 of 2

adjective

alarm·​ing ə-ˈlär-miŋ How to pronounce alarming (audio)
Synonyms of alarmingnext
: causing people to feel danger or alarm or to be worried or frightened
alarming news
The statistics revealed an alarming increase in childhood obesity.
alarmingly
ə-ˈlär-miŋ-lē
adverb
an alarmingly high rate of infection

alarming

2 of 2

present participle of alarm entry 2

Synonyms of alarming

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Adjective

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Examples of alarming in a Sentence

Adjective an alarming rise in her fever, causing the doctor to fear the worst
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Brown’s ability to hammer Husted on this issue is alarming Republican operatives, who see a Husted victory as crucial to holding a majority in the Senate. — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026 Across the mountains of Nepal and Tibet, climate change is causing glaciers to melt at an alarming rate. — Ava Berger, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 Reichenbach said it’s been alarming to her to see how casually her neighbors treat measles. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 Sources also described to IndieWire direct threats and an alarming pattern of retaliation in which Pereira allegedly continues targeting some critics online for months and, in some cases, even years after their initial disputes. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alarming

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of alarm entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alarming was in 1658

Rhymes for alarming

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Browse Nearby Words

alarmer
alarming
alarmingly
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Cite this Entry

“Alarming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alarming. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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