alarming

[ uh-lahr-ming ]

adjective

1. causing alarm or fear:

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

Other Words From

• a·larming·ly adverb
• una·larming adjective
• una·larming·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of alarming¹

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

Example Sentences

Stewart, who was born Sherri Patterson, lay in the bed that she has barely left since August 2019 because of an alarming neurological decline.

From ProPublica

That should be especially alarming to Republicans, since the FiveThirtyEight model believes that Pennsylvania is the likeliest state to decide the 2020 election.

From FiveThirtyEight

This month’s job numbers indicate that we could be reaching that point, which is quite alarming given how far below the pre-pandemic peak those industries still are.

From FiveThirtyEight

At Notre Dame, we have already seen that a few isolated cases can reach 600 very quickly, due to the alarming way the coronavirus spreads.

From Fortune

As a scholar of social movements and media studies, I see an alarming split between the types of content consumed by right-wing reactionaries and left-wing social justice advocates.

From MIT Technology Review

And then the voice of a dispatcher crackles over the radio with those alarming words.

From The Daily Beast

Yesterday morning, my in-box was stuffed to the gunwales with alarming messages alerting me to…to what?

From The Daily Beast

As alarming as parents might find those results, Dr. Temple cautions against jumping to any drastic conclusions.

From The Daily Beast

Any time there is a new outbreak of infectious disease, it can be alarming.

From The Daily Beast

I glimpse an alarming, finger-length aluminum baton in her bag.

From The Daily Beast

Little boys when decking themselves out with tall hat and monstrously big clothes seem to be trying to put on an alarming aspect.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, his whole appearance was so alarming that Davy anxiously inquired of him what he had been eating.

From Project Gutenberg

"I see nothing alarming over there," said the Captain of the company, as he swept the other side of the stream with his glass.

From Project Gutenberg

Seeing the luggage piled “Olympus high,” so as to occasion an alarming oscillation.

From Project Gutenberg

At the same time alarming symptoms began to appear among the men of the sword.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dangerous
• disquieting
• distressing
• disturbing
• frightening
• startling