alarmist

[uh-lahr-mist]

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

/ əˈlɑːmɪst /

noun

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

2. a person who is easily alarmed

adjective

1. characteristic of an alarmist

Other Word Forms

• alarmism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of alarmist¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; alarm + -ist

Example Sentences

“Nobody’s who’s a credible economist or scientist believes that it is, except a few activists and alarmists.”

From Los Angeles Times

He also warns against the "alarmist" tone of the debate on climate change, which he says is "riven with irrationality".

From BBC

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

But Trump’s critics and other experts reject those defenses as alarmist, inaccurate and unduly dismissive of such policies’ downsides.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• pessimist