alarmingly

IPA/əˈlɑːmɪŋli/
KK[əlˈɑrmɪŋli]IPA/əˈlɑːrmɪŋli/

alarmingly — adverb

1. to an extent, or happening in such a manner, that people feel worried or concern

1.adverbB2
Definition

to an extent, or happening in such a manner, that people feel worried or concerned — used especially when numbers, levels, or conditions are changing rapidly and negatively

Example

The number of stray dogs in Hanoi grew alarmingly after the floods.

verb + alarmingly: grew alarmingly

Global temperatures have been rising alarmingly over the past twenty years.

verb phrase + alarmingly: have been rising alarmingly

Common collocations
  • alarmingly high
  • alarmingly fast
  • alarmingly low
  • alarmingly common
  • rise alarmingly
  • grow alarmingly
  • increase alarmingly
  • drop alarmingly
Synonyms
  • worryingly

    more neutral and slightly less intense than alarmingly

  • disturbingly

    emphasizes emotional discomfort rather than fear

  • concerningly

    more formal, common in official reports

Antonyms
  • reassuringly

    opposite effect — makes people feel calm instead of worried

Grammar Patterns

verb + alarmingly

alarmingly + adjective

Usage Note

Often appears in news reports and formal writing about negative trends in statistics, environment, or social conditions. Frequently used with verbs of change such as rise, grow, increase, drop, or dwindle.

Common Mistakes

❗ 'The news sounds alarmingly.' ✅ 'The news sounds alarming.' — linking verbs (sound, look, feel, seem) take an adjective (alarming), not an adverb (alarmingly).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four adverbs describe something that causes unease, but they differ in intensity and register. “Alarmingly” suggests a sense of urgency or danger — the situation may require immediate attention. “Worryingly” is milder and more personal, used when something bothers you but does not necessarily signal danger. “Disturbingly” focuses on emotional discomfort or the unsettling nature of a development. “Concerningly” is more detached and common in formal reports or statistics. For example: “The number of cases rose alarmingly” implies a crisis; “The data is concerningly unclear” sounds like an expert’s measured opinion.

alarmingly ↗worryingly ↗disturbingly ↗concerningly

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • alarmingly high
  • alarmingly fast
  • alarmingly low
  • alarmingly common
  • alarmingly quickly

Etymology

ItalianFrenchEnglish

Derived from “alarm” (from Old Italian “all’arme” meaning “to the arms,” a battle cry that warned soldiers to prepare for attack) combined with the suffix “-ing” to form the adjective “alarming,” and then the adverb suffix “-ly.” The sense of “sudden worry or fear” has been present since the 1500s.