alarming

adjective

alarm·​ing ə-ˈlär-miŋ 

: causing people to feel danger or alarm or to be worried or frightened

alarming news

The statistics revealed an alarming increase in childhood obesity.

alarmingly

ə-ˈlär-miŋ-lē

adverb

an alarmingly high rate of infection

Synonyms

• dire
• direful
• dread
• dreadful
• fearful
• fearsome
• forbidding
• formidable
• frightening
• frightful
• ghastly
• hair-raising
• horrendous
• horrible
• horrifying
• intimidating
• redoubtable
• scary
• shocking
• spine-chilling
• terrible
• terrifying

Examples of alarming in a Sentence

an alarming rise in her fever, causing the doctor to fear the worst

Recent Examples on the Web

And while not all of these films are in the awards race — with its growing pile of nominations, The Substance seems increasingly destined for an Oscar best picture slot — these movies can confront some of the most alarming subjects of contemporary society as much as any traditional Oscar bait. —Eric Kohn, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025

Pelicans were disappearing at an alarming rate because of the bird hat craze at the turn of the 19th century (they were targeted for their feathers). —Kara Franker, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2025

But that’s also why the way the Sixth Circuit arrived at its decision may be even more alarming than the ruling itself. —Brian Barrett, WIRED, 3 Jan. 2025

But in recent years, these risks have increased at an alarming rate. —Kolawole Samuel Adebayo, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of alarm entry 2

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above