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Synonyms

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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. characteristic of an alarmist

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of alarmist

First recorded in 1795–1805; alarm + -ist

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.

On the competitive threat from Chinese AI models, she pushed back against alarmist framing while acknowledging security considerations.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

That sounds alarmist viewed from the energy-independent U.S., where gasoline prices are the most visible clue something is wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

That take seems unduly alarmist said David Goldblatt, a British sportswriter and sociologist who is a visiting professor at Pitzer College in Claremont.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026

My tone may sound alarmist, but it’s my attempt to be realistic, especially based on the number of letters I receive from and about stepmothers in this column.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 20, 2026

“I don’t want to be an alarmist, but I know of nothing humans can do to return the moon to its orbit.”

From "The Dead and the Gone" by Susan Beth Pfeffer

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