alarming

American

[uh-lahr-ming] / əˈlɑr mɪŋ /

adjective

causing alarm or fear.

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

Other Word Forms

alarmingly adverb
unalarming adjective
unalarmingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of alarming

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

Explanation

Something that's alarming is disturbing or upsetting. It can be alarming when you hear a sudden, loud crash of thunder. The idea of climate change is very alarming to many people, and the sound of a police car's siren is alarming when you're driving. Things that are alarming grab your attention, and either frighten you or at least unsettle you. The adjective alarming comes from alarm, via the Old French alarme, which is rooted in the Italian interjection all'arme, a rally or warning cry, "to arms!"

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing alarming

The Magician's Nephew

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Uh-Oh: Synonyms for "Dangerous"

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Delivery robots are both disappointing in their reality and alarming in their symbolic implication.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Another alarming aspect of this opinion is that it really seems like it’s written with the Supreme Court in mind as its audience.

From Slate • Apr. 9, 2026

Government inspections of nursing homes “found alarming instances of inappropriate use of antipsychotic drugs and revealed vulnerabilities in care that have implications for the wider nursing home population,” the HHS inspector general’s office reports.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

The infections of these young infants "who are not yet eligible for routine vaccination, are especially alarming", said Flowers from Unicef.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

The fire has already spread to the trees at an alarming rate.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023