alarminglyadv.
/əˈlɑːmɪŋli/, U.S. /əˈlɑrmɪŋli/ In an alarming manner; disturbingly; worryingly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > fear > quality of inspiring fear > causing apprehension or alarm > [adverb]
alarmingly1742
1742 Country Jrnl. 30 Oct. Hasty, indeed! most alarmingly so!
1787 R. Burns Let. 28 Aug. (2001) I. 153 Lady M'kenzie being rather a little alarmingly ill of a sore throat.
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. I. 8 So far from increasing, manufactures had alarmingly declined.
1887 Pall Mall Budget 21 Apr. 2/2 This criminal laxness, so alarmingly on the increase, should be nipped in the bud.
1919 Times 29 Jan. 8/6 The New York Board of Health is arranging an extensive campaign to check the drug evil which is extending alarmingly among all classes of society.
1997 BBC Wildlife Mar. 2 Its numbers have become alarmingly low due to..hunting for its..‘helmet’ which is prized as a trophy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.1742