five-alarm
Americanadjective
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of or relating to an extremely destructive or intense fire.
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of or relating to something that is remarkable or intense, especially of food that is very spicy.
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.
“I’ve called this a hyper-complex risk environment for the sector. I’ve been quoted as describing the situation as a five-alarm fire,” said Jim Robb, the nonprofit’s chief executive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
“Missing a monthly payment is a five-alarm fire” where something has to go deeply wrong in a person’s financial situation, he said.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026
Authorities declared a five-alarm fire -- the highest level -- as night fell.
From Barron's ● Nov. 26, 2025
“Use whatever analogy you want to use — this is a five-alarm fire,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary, a pediatric infectious-disease specialist who chairs the American Academy of Pediatrics’ infectious-disease committee.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2025
A five-alarm fire has broken out in the Parietal region.
From The Brain by Alexander Blade
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
