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

And some of those storylines are even more alarming today after returning to them as a parent. — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 3 July 2026

These charges are outrageous and should be alarming to every American. — Jasmine Baehr , Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

The Cubs — and specifically Dansby Swanson — keep driving in runs at an alarming rate. — Levi Weaver, New York Times, 2 July 2026

The planet’s oceans are at unprecedented temperatures for this time of year, breaking the all-time June record, according to new data, with alarming implications for global weather and marine life. — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 1 July 2026

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