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.
Though any attempt by India to impede the flow of the rivers going into Pakistan would take years to take effect, Islamabad viewed the move as alarming enough to be considered an act of war. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025 For weeks, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and other senior advisers have been fielding alarming calls from business leaders about the fallout from Trump’s tariff policies and his ongoing threats to fire the chairman of the Federal Reserve. Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2025 But the prison has an alarming secret, U.S. congressional investigators disclosed last year. Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 23 Apr. 2025 The number of Americans considering bankruptcy is soaring to its highest level since just before the pandemic, a potentially alarming sign as clouds gather over the economy. Alain Sherter, CBS News, 22 Apr. 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 1 May. 2025.

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