false alarm
noun
1
: an alarm (such as a fire or burglar alarm) that is set off needlessly
2
: something causing alarm or excitement that proves to be unfounded
Examples of false alarm in a Sentence
A false alarm drew firefighters to the school.
The report that the factory would be closing was a false alarm.
He thought he might be having a heart attack, but his chest pains were just a false alarm.
Recent Examples on the Web
According to Grunsfeld, this is what sustains the Artemis II crewmembers during fearful moments, such as when an indicator suggested a cabin leak that turned out to be a false alarm.
—
Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
The message turned out to be a false alarm.
—David W. Brown, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
That false alarm didn’t stop Raney from coaching.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 2 Apr. 2026
And even supporters of the systems say searchers can become dulled by a multitude of false alarms and miss the few actual weapons.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for false alarm
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Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2026
The message turned out to be a false alarm.
—David W. Brown, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
That false alarm didn’t stop Raney from coaching.
—Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 2 Apr. 2026
And even supporters of the systems say searchers can become dulled by a multitude of false alarms and miss the few actual weapons.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for false alarm
Cite this Entry
“False alarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/false%20alarm. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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