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

• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• fearsome
• forbidding
• formidable
• frightening
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• scary
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible
• terrifying

Examples of alarming in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The technology shows promise, and the ecosystem of tools and training (for people) is growing at an alarming pace, but proof points that drive significant confidence are yet to emerge. —Jagan Cuddapah, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

Anthony Wallace | Afp | Getty Images The summer of 2024 was the hottest on record, according to the European Union’s climate monitor, extending an alarming run of temperature records that has put the planet firmly on course to notch its hottest year in human history. —Sam Meredith, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2024

The energy and vitriol that people had was pretty alarming. —Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 4 Sep. 2024

This alarming trend continues into 2024, with over $65 million lost to Bitcoin ATM fraud in just the first six months of the year. —Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 3 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of alarm entry 2

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above