alarming

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

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.
The Healey administration and the Legislature have belatedly taken notice of this alarming trend. Editorial, Boston Herald, 7 Mar. 2026 As the economy tightens, families with children are facing homelessness at an alarming rate. Libby Smith, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026 Around the world, terminal saline lakes are shrinking at an alarming rate, research shows. Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026 The gap between those two numbers is both reassuring and alarming, depending on your line of work. Jake Angelo, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026 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 13 Mar. 2026.

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