alarming

Adjective complement with noun phrase

• find: At any rate, I find the speculation more alarming than exciting.

Infinitive complement

• see: It is also alarming to see banned chemicals finding their way into food sold in the UK.
• note: It is alarming to note that for every 1000 people there are only 421 homes available in Europe.
• find: At first it was a bit alarming to find frogs appearing when I was tidying a border or cutting the grass.

Modifies a noun

• regularity: My computer is slowing down and crashing with alarming regularity.
• rapidity: Most of the disciples disappear from the pages of Acts with alarming rapidity.
• slump: However, this year's GCSE and A-level results showed an alarming slump in the number of students learning languages.
• rate: In addition, the tide floods at an alarming rate over the mud, often leaving nowhere to go for safety.
• statistic: Article they note appeal can be made alarming statistics of.
• tendency: The dissolution of his marriage in 1973 coincided with a further decline and an alarming tendency to put on weight.

Modifying Another Word

• somewhat: A glance at the picture gives you an idea of the somewhat alarming nature of the trek.
• rather: Replica of the brass of Adam Bacon, set in the rather alarming chancel carpet.
• equally: Rates among children have risen at an equally alarming rate.
• quite: The speed at which progress in this field is being made is quite alarming.
• potentially: There is news of another potentially alarming book for the government.
• truly: I'm not sure we can take this at face value but nevertheless, this is truly alarming news.

Used with adjective complement

• seem: For those who are not yet believers, this part of the Bible may seem alarming.
• look: A glance at the most common or important side effects may look rather alarming.
• become: Now the noise from the little ones was becoming alarming.
• find: Here let us dispose of a difficulty, which is not serious, but which some people find rather alarming.