variants
also alarum
1
as in apprehension
suspicion or fear of future harm or misfortune
observed with alarm the man staggering toward the edge of the cliff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in warning
the act or an instance of telling beforehand of danger or risk
in a daring midnight ride Paul Revere gave the alarm that British troops were approaching
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in fear
the emotion experienced in the presence or threat of danger
filled with alarm when the flood waters reached their front steps
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also alarum
1
as in to scare
to strike with fear
I don't want to alarm you, but I think you should know there's a bear on your back porch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to worry
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
alarmed at the skyrocketing cost of home heating fuel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alarm
Peter H. Gleick, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2025
The contact, however, does not arrive, which ought to ring alarm bells.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
Erin Clack, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025
California officials apologized after millions of residents in Los Angeles County were alarmed by a false alert to evacuate as wildfires rage.
—Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for alarm 
Noun
Climate scientists have been sounding the alarm about growing climate risks for decades.
—Peter H. Gleick, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2025
The contact, however, does not arrive, which ought to ring alarm bells.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
Her parents were alarmed by the situation, putting a damper on her wedding celebration.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 22 Jan. 2025
California officials apologized after millions of residents in Los Angeles County were alarmed by a false alert to evacuate as wildfires rage.
—Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for alarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alarm
Noun
-
Zenon-Reyes fled the state to avoid apprehension, according to police reports.—
Tracy Neal,
arkansasonline.com,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Border Patrol made nearly 250,000 apprehensions just in December of that year.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The Clay Fire in Riverside County, near Los Angeles, has ignited on Tuesday evening, growing to nearly 40 acres and prompting evacuation warnings.—
Kristen Waggoner,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
-
The first-ever blizzard warning has been issued for parts of Texas and Louisiana as a historic snowstorm begins in the Gulf Coast and then pushes east across the South.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
On trial for murder: The trial of three men linked to a series of robberies and murders that rocked New York’s L.G.B.T.Q. community and spread fear throughout the city began with opening statements.—
Shayla Colon,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
-
As the community grapples with recovery, fears of gentrification loom large.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
All these precautions are not meant to scare people, Tetro and Gerba said, but to inform.—
Melanie Radzicki McManus,
CNN,
25 Jan. 2025
-
Because these WMAs are designed to provide two conflicting services — to maintain wildlife habitat and to offer recreation, including hunting opportunities that may scare the birds away — no one really knows how the resident geese perceive the situation.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Another worried the fire had crept out of the Palisades toward Santa Monica Canyon, endangering his house.—
Shawn Hubler,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
-
As writers stopped worrying about viewers losing the thread, their shows started resembling ultra-long films.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
And recently thousands of physicians and others in health care have signed onto letters echoing these concerns.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Lifting their lips Growling Baring their teeth Addressing Resource Guarding If a dog displays resource guarding, owners are encouraged to consult a veterinarian to rule out underlying medical issues, as behavioral changes or aggression could indicate health concerns.—
Barbara A. Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Where another artist might rely on grotesque specifics to frighten the reader, Mignola’s insinuating expanses of black ink conceal all but the most necessary details of a rich and malevolent world, filled with monstrosities, yes, but also oddities, many of them delightful.—
Sam Thielman,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
-
As the devastating wildfires began to sweep across Los Angeles on Jan. 7, frightened residents were not turning to Netflix.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
White House officials were particularly dismayed at special counsel Robert Hur’s report on his investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents.—
Colleen Long,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Jan. 2025
-
As with most serious mountaineers, Viesturs is dismayed by the overcrowding now on Everest, the world's highest peak.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes,
28 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near alarm
Cite this Entry
“Alarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alarm. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share