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alarming

[ uh-lahr-ming ]

/ əˈlɑr mɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR alarming ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing alarm or fear: an alarming case of pneumonia; an alarming lack of respect.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!

Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Origin of alarming

First recorded in 1670–80; alarm + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM alarming

a·larm·ing·ly, adverbun·a·larm·ing, adjectiveun·a·larm·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby alarming

Alarcón, Alaric, à la rigueur, alarm, alarm clock, alarming, alarmist, alarm reaction, alar spine, alarum, alarums and excursions

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for alarming

Yesterday morning, my in-box was stuffed to the gunwales with alarming messages alerting me to…to what?
Hooray for Liberal Fear-Mongering!|Michael Tomasky|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As alarming as parents might find those results, Dr. Temple cautions against jumping to any drastic conclusions.
Sexting Is the New ‘First Base’|Russell Saunders|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Any time there is a new outbreak of infectious disease, it can be alarming.
What You Need to Know About Enterovirus|Russell Saunders|October 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I glimpse an alarming, finger-length aluminum baton in her bag.
Best Career Arc Ever: From Burlesque To Bartending|Anne Berry|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

All of this Ebola activity raises a number of questions, each of them alarming.
Is This Ebola's Tipping Point?|Kent Sepkowitz|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was for the moment an alarming, and yet a faintly fascinating experience.
The Return|Walter de la Mare
To the first adventurer we may suppose that it would present itself with alarming force.
British Quarterly Review, American Edition, Volume LIV|Various
I can not take upon me to say that Arthur Campbell's beautiful pinions had touched the dangerous flame with any alarming results.
The Doctor's Daughter|"Vera"
Alarm no sun, alarm is thinking, alarming is determination an earth wide moth is something.
Geography and Plays|Gertrude Stein
Roy was smiling, as if the narrative told did not seem so alarming to him.
The Man of the Forest|Zane Grey

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