alarming

adjective

alarm·​ing ə-ˈlär-miŋ 

: 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

Synonyms of alarming

• terrifying
• frightening
• scary
• formidable
• horrible
• terrible
• intimidating
• shocking

Examples of alarming in a Sentence

an alarming rise in her fever, causing the doctor to fear the worst

Recent Examples on the Web

Grace just wants to refurbish their gorgeous, dilapidated home and start a family, but an alarming number of strangers start coming to the house and then refusing to leave. —Tim Grierson, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2025

The list of troubling trends among LGBTQ+ teens and young adults is rising at alarming levels compared to 2024, a new survey finds. —Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025

The stakes are high — and the alien vibes are real as Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi undergoes a drastic transformation with some alarming prosthetics for his face. —Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025

The drops are alarming (second most in the league). —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of alarm entry 2

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for alarming

• disarming
• arming
• charming
• farming
• harming