Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

alarming

/əˈlɑɹm.ɪŋ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.53 in modern English

Syllables: alarm-ing
IPA: /əˈlɑɹm.ɪŋ/

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

present participle and gerund of alarm

adj

Causing apprehension, fear or alarm; frightening.

Example Sentences

"Another stop at the 731-yard Sharpthorne Tunnel allowed the apprentices to see how a combination of water and a "chemical soup" is destroying the rails at an alarming rate."

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /əˈlɑɹm.ɪŋ/
British English: /əˈlɑːm.ɪŋ/

Inflected Forms

more alarming (comparative) most alarming (superlative)

Derived Forms

alarmingly alarmingness nonalarming unalarming

Frequently Paired Words

agonize distress hopelessness agonizing frightening lamentable

Synonyms

concerning distressful distressing troubling worrisome worrying alarming nagging unsettling

Antonyms

comforting

Rhymes With

farming charming harming arming disarming rearming

Questions

How do you pronounce alarming?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈlɑɹm.ɪŋ/.
What does alarming mean?: present participle and gerund of alarm

How to pronounce alarming

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “alarming”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈlɑɹm.ɪŋ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “alarming”.
Repeat and practice — Say “alarming” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.