variants
also alarum
1
as in apprehension
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 worry
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 alarm
Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 17 June 2025
The rapid expansion of Sun and other foreign drugmakers set off new alarms among inspectors, their supervisors and advisers to Woodcock.
—Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica, 17 June 2025
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
Her red Chevy Avalanche was found abandoned with windows rolled down -- a detail that immediately alarmed her family.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for alarm
Noun
The sirens continued as day broke Tuesday – an alarm purportedly for a ballistic threat, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
Of those wounded, more than 40 have been taken to hospitals, Kyiv mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said, with residential buildings and other infrastructure severely damaged.
—Daria Tarasova-Markina, CNN Money, 17 June 2025
The rapid expansion of Sun and other foreign drugmakers set off new alarms among inspectors, their supervisors and advisers to Woodcock.
—Debbie Cenziper, ProPublica, 17 June 2025
Verb
Too few found that false statement, or a hundred other ones, alarming in any way.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
Her red Chevy Avalanche was found abandoned with windows rolled down -- a detail that immediately alarmed her family.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for alarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alarm
Noun
-
Spectrum has since restored service and is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the people responsible.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 June 2025
-
Recent developments have intensified investor apprehension.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
While major plot developments have been withheld to preserve the viewing experience, the network has requested spoiler warnings on all reviews.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
26 June 2025
-
Many of the latest driver-assist safety systems like forward automatic emergency braking and blind spot warning abound in this segment to protect one’s most-precious cargo.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Staffers were losing access to the agency’s internal payment system, and officials in the Congo were reluctant to authorize an expenditure, for fear that they would be accused of circumventing the executive order.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
-
As the threat of more strikes continues to fuel fears in Israel, the residents of Tamra are left feeling anxious.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
However, the stories about Porter from Cleveland and Houston may scare enough other teams that Milwaukee can keep him at that price. 7.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
-
That is because high costs are still scaring off buyers, who are also delaying purchasing a home because of growing economic uncertainty.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Verb
-
Concerns about student overuse and misuse are still prevalent: About half of teachers worry that student use of AI will decrease teens’ ability to think critically and independently or to have persistence when problem solving, according to the study.—
Jocelyn Gecker,
Fortune,
25 June 2025
-
After studies had linked chronic exposure to high levels of mercury found in fish and whale blubber to developmental delays, scientists began to worry about the element’s effects on the young brain.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
On both the commercial, as well as the military side, the ability to deliver against order books was a paramount concern due to the ongoing ramp in commercial deliveries, and the shortfalls in munitions and missiles from wars in Ukraine and the mid-East.—
Jerrold Lundquist,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
-
While the full dataset has not been published, the leak already raises concerns over regulatory compliance and consumer protection, especially given the sensitive nature of the firm’s work.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 June 2025
Verb
-
May 9, 2024 Gary Usher, a songwriter who worked with Landy, told state investigators that Wilson was a virtual captive, manipulated by a man who frightened and intimidated him.—
Steve Marble,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2025
-
Today, movies and TV intended for the biggest audience possible often water down their storytelling and generalize in order to avoid anything that might challenge, frighten or unsettle the audience.—
Alissa Wilkinson,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
He became particularly dismayed by the focus on trans identity among these left-wing allies.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
-
Bene was among those in Georgia who were dismayed by Beach’s elevation to the Treasury position.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Alarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alarm. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share