alarm 1 of 2

variants also alarum
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2
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alarm

2 of 2

verb

variants also alarum
1
2

Synonym Chooser

How is the word alarm distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of alarm are dread, fear, fright, panic, terror, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

When is dread a more appropriate choice than alarm?

The words dread and alarm can be used in similar contexts, but dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

When can fear be used instead of alarm?

While the synonyms fear and alarm are close in meaning, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

When might fright be a better fit than alarm?

The synonyms fright and alarm are sometimes interchangeable, but fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

Where would panic be a reasonable alternative to alarm?

In some situations, the words panic and alarm are roughly equivalent. However, panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

When would terror be a good substitute for alarm?

The meanings of terror and alarm largely overlap; however, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

How do trepidation and dread relate to one another, in the sense of alarm?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

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 alarm
Noun
Kennedy's drastic cuts to department programs and slashing of thousands of workers at the department have sparked alarm from public health experts and outrage from Democratic lawmakers. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 13 July 2025 In the wake of the deadly floods, officials in Kerr County are facing scrutiny over the county’s lack of an alarm system for weather disasters. Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Verb
The New York state assemblyman has offered campaign promises of free child care and free bus transportation, which have alarmed politicians on the other side. Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 2 July 2025 Don’t be alarmed when the vinegar reacts with the baking soda. Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for alarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alarm
Noun
  • What began with her apprehension about how the kitten would adapt quickly turned into a delightful surprise.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 July 2025
  • Lawrence Police Department's pursuit policy Indiana's statewide police pursuit policy adopted in 2022 states officers should use their discretion when initiating a pursuit and should not pursue if the risk to public safety greatly outweighs the need for immediate apprehension.
    Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Noun
  • The warning is in effect until 3 a.m. Actions to take when lightning threat is imminent Around 25 million lightning strikes occur in the United States every year, with most taking place during the summer months.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2025
  • Although the warnings arrived less than 24 hours before the flooding started, long-time weather service veterans and regional experts say that's not all that unusual in this region.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Humanitarian workers—many idealistic and committed—fear that sounding the alarm will end operations altogether.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • The threat remains, but the public’s fears, along with the movies that explored them, have faded away.
    Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • The combination of a floodlight and a camera is a great way to scare off intruders and get better quality footage at night.
    Simon Hill, Wired News, 11 July 2025
  • Simply pull the pin, and the device will emit a blaring siren sound in combination with a strobe light that will draw attention to your situation and scare away would-be threats.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • When Test Track officially opens on July 22, guests will not have to worry about virtual queues.
    Megan duBois, Southern Living, 7 July 2025
  • Mellinger now worries the department will not be able to meet its five-year goals for key performance indicators, which measure progress on the county’s biggest public health challenges.
    Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • In seconds, content appears without shipping or physical storage concerns.
    Vikrant Shaurya, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
  • Of the eight which were understood at the time to be complaints or concerns: four were raised to both the production company and the BBC, two were raised only with the production company and two were raised only with the BBC.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • But their return has also angered and frightened livestock farmers and others in rural communities who are having to learn to live alongside these once nearly-extinct creatures.
    Ruth Sherlock, NPR, 9 July 2025
  • But on Friday night, the booms and blasts of celebratory fireworks appear to have frightened them away.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2025
Verb
  • Law enforcement officials and community activists say they are dismayed by Henderson's celebrity.
    David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
  • The decision marks a decisive turning point in a long preservation battle over the closed Polish Pilsen church. Activists who want the church reopened were dismayed that the final landmark status only protects the church building and not other buildings on the property.
    Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Alarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alarm. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

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