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
adverb
ə-ˈlär-miŋ-lē
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
The data on young men’s mental health is alarming.
—
Anthony V. MacK, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
In 2017, a Meta AI research experiment was greeted with headlines that were similarly alarming—and equally misleading.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
The statistics are alarming -- according to the Food Bank of the Rockies, one in eight people in Colorado doesn't have access to enough food, including one in seven children.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Investment implications For the most part, the stock market has shrugged off this year's alarming headlines, as geopolitical shocks historically have little lasting impact on equities.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alarming
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.
Anthony V. MacK, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
In 2017, a Meta AI research experiment was greeted with headlines that were similarly alarming—and equally misleading.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
The statistics are alarming -- according to the Food Bank of the Rockies, one in eight people in Colorado doesn't have access to enough food, including one in seven children.
—Tori Mason, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026
Investment implications For the most part, the stock market has shrugged off this year's alarming headlines, as geopolitical shocks historically have little lasting impact on equities.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alarming
Cite this Entry
“Alarming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alarming. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
