alarmist

American  

[uh-lahr-mist] / əˈlɑr mɪst /

noun

1. a person who tends to raise alarms, especially without sufficient reason, as by exaggerating dangers or prophesying calamities.

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adjective

1. of or like an alarmist.

alarmist British  

/ əˈlɑːmɪst /

noun

1. a person who alarms or attempts to alarm others needlessly or without due grounds

2. a person who is easily alarmed

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adjective

1. characteristic of an alarmist

Other Word Forms

• alarmism noun

Etymology

Origin of alarmist

First recorded in 1795–1805; alarm + -ist

Example Sentences

Instead he argues a "fine balance" is needed between raising awareness and "not falling into the trap of fear-messaging or being overly alarmist, which can backfire".

From BBC

Military and political leaders initially dismissed his work as alarmist.

From The Wall Street Journal

Perhaps it’s alarmist to conflate the masculinity on display in “Warfare” and its promotional campaign with the rise in tradwife content.

From Salon

Mari Barke, a member of the Orange County Board of Education, said critics are being unnecessarily alarmist as it relates to school districts that serve students through high school.

From Los Angeles Times

On his Facebook page, he is known for dispassionate detail rather than alarmist hype.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• pessimist