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

The diminishing number of textile mills in the U.S. is also alarming. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 19 Mar. 2025

And there’s also the paradoxical fact that, while safe spaces and trigger warnings are supposedly a fixture of modern-day education, an alarming number of Jewish students no longer feel safe on campus, a problem sometimes exacerbated, as Sachs illustrates, by the staff. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025

His behaviors are still alarming and his treatment plan seems to be the bare minimum. —Esther Kang, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025

Further, the Trump administration's violation of a federal court order is profoundly alarming. —David Faris, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of alarm entry 2

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for alarming

• disarming
• arming
• charming
• farming
• harming