alarming

1 of 2

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

alarming

2 of 2

present participle of alarm entry 2

Synonyms of alarming

Adjective

• terrifying
• frightening
• scary
• formidable
• horrible
• terrible
• intimidating
• shocking

Examples of alarming in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

After encountering precipitation and requesting to climb, the pilot declared an emergency as the aircraft began losing altitude at an alarming rate. — Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026

Advertisement There are no point-of-care tests for either of these drugs or other alarming and novel chemicals like cychlorphine, an opioid that does not show up on fentanyl tests. — Dr. Shravani Durbhakula, Time, 1 Nov. 2026

This alarming trend means that more women of childbearing age are facing decisions of the most difficult sort, weighing the desire to have a child against the need to start cancer treatment as soon as possible and maximize their chances of survival. — Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 29 Oct. 2026

As Ivan and Nina wrestle with their own emotional truths, which range from her mother Nora’s departure from their lives to Ivan’s clumsy recitations of Nina’s childhood antics, something alarming is afoot. — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of alarm entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1658, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for alarming

• disarming
• arming
• charming
• farming
• harming