alarmed

adjective

ə-ˈlärmd 

1

: feeling a sense of danger : urgently worried, concerned, or frightened

I was alarmed to see how sick she looked.

And what followed was not a miracle but a … model of how tough government, cooperative businessmen and a very alarmed public can make a dirty world clean again.

—William Oscar Johnson

2

: equipped with an alarm

an alarmed door

Most exits were locked and alarmed, and employees had to show ID badges when they entered lab buildings.

—Jennifer Nagorka

Synonyms of alarmed

• frightened
• afraid
• terrified
• scared
• horrified
• shocked
• worried

Examples of alarmed in a Sentence

the Mohawks were the trapper's friends, so he was not the least bit alarmed at the sight of the band of Mohawk hunters

Recent Examples on the Web

Refugee advocates were alarmed, asking if women raised under an oppressive regime could be expected to question the Australian government’s media strategy. —ABC News, 20 Mar. 2026

Grassroots coalitions across California and nationwide are emerging in school districts, including in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Marcos, as parents grow increasingly alarmed that digital activities are replacing hands-on learning and peer interaction with little oversight. —Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026

Economists are alarmed this disruption could cause a global economic shock triggering price rises and shortages for billions of people. —Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 Mar. 2026

Understandably, some gamers may be skeptical or even alarmed, given the ethical issues and legal battles surrounding generative AI. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of alarm entry 2

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for alarmed

• armed
• charmed
• farmed
• harmed
• disarmed
• unarmed
• unharmed