alarming

[uh-lahr-ming]

adjective

1. causing alarm or fear.

   an alarming case of pneumonia; an alarming lack of respect.

Other Word Forms

• alarmingly adverb
• unalarming adjective
• unalarmingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of alarming¹

First recorded in 1670–80; alarm + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Central Danang province was also forecast to experience more flooding in the next two days, with Danang city's rivers swollen to alarming levels, the environment ministry said.

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That indicates that while claims are ticking higher, they are not at “alarming levels” so far, says Nancy Vanden Houten, lead U.S. economist for Oxford Economics.

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At 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Kelly Williamson woke up to an alarming text from her employer, Amazon’s Whole Foods Market, urging her to check her email.

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What may be more alarming, regarding the future risks to inflation, is the potentially potent combination of pro-cyclical fiscal measures and loosening monetary policy at a time when inflation is showing signs of stickiness.

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Arne Slot appears at a loss to halt the champions' alarming slide and worse could be on the horizon with the in-form Aston Villa and City to come before next month's international break.

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Related Words

• dangerous 
• disquieting 
• distressing www.thesaurus.com
• disturbing 
• frightening www.thesaurus.com
• startling