as in terrifying
causing fear
an alarming rise in her fever, causing the doctor to fear the worst
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also alaruming
1
as in frightening
to strike with fear
I don't want to alarm you, but I think you should know there's a bear on your back porch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disturbing
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of home heating fuel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of alarming
Elias Burke, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Natural Glow Blurring Foundation A reformulation of your favorite beauty product is always a bit alarming, but Armani’s new addition is more like a glow up.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
The trend is alarming free speech and higher education advocates who see the First Amendment rights of professors in peril.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alarming
Adjective
Granted, Arsenal are the league leaders, and not every team will be as adept at picking apart Tottenham’s defence, but there were alarming signs in the opening minutes that a lack of structure was there to be exploited.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Natural Glow Blurring Foundation A reformulation of your favorite beauty product is always a bit alarming, but Armani’s new addition is more like a glow up.
—Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
Inflation reached 69% — alarming at the time but modest in hindsight — and the first major wave of protests erupted.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2026
The trend is alarming free speech and higher education advocates who see the First Amendment rights of professors in peril.
—Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for alarming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alarming
Adjective
-
The frantic energy, the emotional volatility, the crazy eyes — Metcalf uses every tool in her acting arsenal to turn a cheap plot twist into the most terrifying adversary Sidney faces.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
-
My mom was around at the time and told me stories about what that was like, just obviously terrifying.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Clumsiness notwithstanding, bringing a criminal case against a journalist who was reporting on a protest is an authoritarian tactic—a means of frightening the press away from uncovering the truth.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
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But monks there complained that the slain king was walking around at night, frightening them with strange sounds.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The 12 villas come with a living room, a separate bedroom, and kitchen stocked with complimentary snacks and drinks from the mini bar, a pre-dinner amuse bouche from the chef each evening, and a patio with a separate entrance for staffers to set up morning breakfast without disturbing you.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Set in the 1990s, the film centers on a young FBI agent (Maika Monroe) who investigates a series of disturbing murders connected by highly specific commonalities.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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His birdie chances on the 17th and 18th were woefully short on greens where short putts can be scary.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The film can get a little scary at times for younger viewers, but both parents and kids will be captivated by its haunting beauty.—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hauge called that startling, given that court filing fees alone cost just as much.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Saturday, startling his sister.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
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And as for worrying about too much screen time, Woods has zero concerns.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
26 Feb. 2026
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The real media merger worth worrying about involves the control of local TV stations.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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With platinum plaques, festival stages, and a partnership with Scott that has evolved into a formidable creative enterprise, Chase B’s career stands at a pivotal inflection point.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
26 Feb. 2026
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In Angola, the Cuban revolutionary Jorge Risquet spent several years coordinating Cuban and Soviet support for the country’s Marxist government fighting, and defeating, a formidable tandem of CIA cash and South African firepower.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Guadalajara will be hosting matches this summer, in what’s expected to be an economic boon for the state of Jalisco, and Sheinbaum will no doubt be wary of scaring off would-be tourists.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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According to Bloomberg, analysts are already antsy about increasing prices scaring away customers, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alarming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alarming. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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