variants
also alarum
1
as in dread
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
observed with alarm the man staggering toward the edge of the cliff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in warning
the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk
in a daring midnight ride Paul Revere gave the alarm that British troops were approaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
filled with alarm when the flood waters reached their front steps
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also alarum
1
as in to scare
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 to concern
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.
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Recent Examples of alarm
Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
His family chugged beers in celebration; the media ate up his tale of sleeping through his alarm the morning of his win, after staying up late to binge-watch the sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine .
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2026
That is why recent reports of civilians killed during immigration enforcement operations should alarm us not only as a nation, but as a health system.
—Jesus Ruiz, STAT, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alarm
Noun
The president's talk of nationalizing the voting process generated bipartisan pushback and alarms critics worried about the fairness of future races.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
His family chugged beers in celebration; the media ate up his tale of sleeping through his alarm the morning of his win, after staying up late to binge-watch the sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine .
—Sean Gregory, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
For those frustrated and alarmed by the killings and ICE’s aggressive tactics, the DMB said that their charity, Bama Works, have made donations to the ACLU and the ACLU of Minnesota.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Jan. 2026
That is why recent reports of civilians killed during immigration enforcement operations should alarm us not only as a nation, but as a health system.
—Jesus Ruiz, STAT, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for alarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alarm
Noun
-
The filmmaker leans pop-comic rather than petrifying in his final draft, opting for earnestness that smothers atmospheric dread.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In its worst forms, paranoia is a misapplication of the tools of attention, devotion, and care, scuttled by dread, the oppression of the unknown, and a lack of support.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sixteen members of the media account for 80 percent of the MVP vote and submit their ballots near the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter.—
Alex Valdes,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Two inmates facing serious violent crime charges escaped from the Sumter County Jail late Sunday, prompting an urgent manhunt and warnings from law enforcement across southwest Georgia.—
CBS News Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The killings of Good and Pretti sparked further fear and backlash.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Twelve years after an NFL game was first shown on television in a period of fear of war and triumph in war, the championship game itself was broadcast across the country for the first time.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As federal agents try to scare and provoke, in a way that could easily undermine the cause, such training is essential to ensure peaceful protesters do not take the bait.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The presence or the expectation of violence scares people away from democracy.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But some consumers and lawmakers are concerned the technology allows stores to suddenly hike prices on certain items during high-demand windows.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
When Reeves’ political future was in doubt last summer, gilt yields spiked as much as 22 basis points in a single day, with market watchers saying at the time that investors were concerned her departure would lead to the government spending and borrowing more.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The social media giant's guidance offset worries about its sky-high spending on artificial intelligence.—
,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Keogh said that access is a security worry because people in the indictment include citizens of communist China, an American rival.—
Steve Patterson,
Florida Times-Union,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Our cousins just over the border in Wisconsin kept up a steady stream of taunts, trash-talking the Bears and causing us all a lot of anxiety as the minutes ticked by.—
Erendira Rendon,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
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Experts say exercise during pregnancy and after birth can help lower anxiety, improve sleep, and boost your mood.—
Hannah Silverman,
Parents,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The state spent more than $2 million on nonlethal efforts to drive the wolves away from human communities, working day and night over the summer to frighten them with drones, flags, rubber bullets and beanbags, among other methods.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
This is no longer about ideology, this is about standing up for those who are being wrongly arrested, being unfairly harassed or being made to feel constantly frightened in their own homes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alarm. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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