alarmist

American  

[uh-lahr-mist] / əˈlɑr mɪst /

noun

1. a person who tends to raise alarms, especially without sufficient reason, as by exaggerating dangers or prophesying calamities.

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adjective

1. of or like an alarmist.

alarmist British  

/ əˈlɑːmɪst /

noun

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

2. a person who is easily alarmed

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adjective

1. characteristic of an alarmist

Other Word Forms

• alarmism noun

Etymology

Origin of alarmist

First recorded in 1795–1805; alarm + -ist

Example Sentences

She is reading alarmist headlines about worsening inflation in the newspapers.

From MarketWatch

“She is reading alarmist headlines about Iran in the newspapers.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Alam also criticises Indian media coverage as alarmist, dismissing claims of systematic persecution of minority Hindus as "a massive disinformation campaign".

From BBC

My tone may sound alarmist, but it’s my attempt to be realistic, especially based on the number of letters I receive from and about stepmothers in this column.

From MarketWatch

Instead he argues a "fine balance" is needed between raising awareness and "not falling into the trap of fear-messaging or being overly alarmist, which can backfire".

From BBC

Related Words

• pessimist