ALARMING Synonyms: 170 Similar and Opposite Words

alarming 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈlär-miŋ

Definition of alarming

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

alarming

2 of 2

verb

variants also alaruming

present participle of alarm

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

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

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.

Recent Examples of alarming

Adjective

The messages grew increasingly alarming before the Learjet 60, which was traveling from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas, ultimately crashed and erupted in a fireball. — CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026 The pilot requested permission to climb another 2,000 feet and then quickly declared an emergency as the jet lost altitude at an alarming rate. — David Fischer, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026

Verb

But the Treasury market’s rapid deterioration is now alarming those who previously downplayed the risks. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026 But even for an opener, Nix’s sloppiness was un-Bo-lievable, his carelessness with the ball alarming, given the stage. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alarming

Recent Examples of Synonyms for alarming

Adjective

Robertson and Sepulveda play two friends who travel to a remote Italian village to settle a family estate, where their trip spirals into a deadly game of deception at the hands of a charming hunter with a terrifying secret (Armitage).

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
In the last two minutes of the flight, Filgueiras shifted from calmly communicating with air traffic controllers to calling out terrifying updates as the plane plummeted.

— Josh Funk, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of terrifying

Verb

For Cox and Walker, the challenge was to introduce horror-film conventions without frightening the franchise’s youngest viewers.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026
Powell tried to open the stall door, and then began fondling himself, frightening the 11-year-old, who tried to leave, but Powell blocked him from getting out.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 June 2026

Definition of frightening

Verb

For example, in the 20th century there was a flawed world leader who held rigid ideologies, racial biases, and disturbing personal behaviors.

— Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Her go-to is the Diolsty Vibrating Alarm Wristband, which vibrates discreetly to alert you without disturbing the people around you.

— Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Adjective

Detroit has a top-10 rushing defense, although that defense will be without middle linebacker Jack Campbell after a scary neck injury last week.

— David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026
Thursday’s stock sell-off looked scary — but some Wall Street analysts believe the dramatic decline might be just what the stock market needed after a monthslong run-up sent shares to dizzying heights.

— Rob Wile, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of scary

Verb

One of my co-workers tends to blast through this door at top speed, often startling a person reaching for the handle on the other side.

— Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
As if triggered by this thought, the door buzzed itself open, startling the pigeons from wire to wing, a grand scattering.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of startling

Verb

Ever since, plastics have become another red alert to add to our list of threats that are largely out of our control yet impossible to stop worrying about.

— Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
Along with gas prices, healthcare is the biggest household expense worrying voters, polls show.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of worrying

Adjective

Their pass defense is specifically interesting, allowing over 227 passing yards per game, even while boasting one of the most talented and formidable defensive backfields in the game.

— Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 8 Nov. 2026
The formidable organization of Seminole County Democrats (aka the SemDems) was clearly a factor there.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of formidable

Verb

His campaign strategy in the days before the election seemed to rely on scaring the Israeli public into voting for him.

— Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2026
The white whale of American politics seemed in reach until the president spent two years scaring it away.

— Gabe Fleisher, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of scaring

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alarmed

alarming

alarmingly

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Style

“Alarming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alarming. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of alarming

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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