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alarming

adjective

alarm·​ing ə-ˈlär-miŋ How to pronounce alarming (audio)
: 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

Examples of alarming in a Sentence

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.
Add in Purdy's toe injury that cost him eight starts, and the laundry list looks alarming on paper. Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Dec. 2025 But injuries right now are happening at an alarming rate—particularly those that involve trauma to muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025 The lack of progression by freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood was also alarming. Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Nov. 2025 Yet most alarming is the fact that marine mammal species still haven’t recovered, Sutton said. Kylie Williams, Miami Herald, 29 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alarming

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of alarm entry 2

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alarming was in 1658

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Cite this Entry

“Alarming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alarming. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.

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