alarmism
Crying wolf constantly
Alarmism is the tendency to raise excessive or unwarranted alarm about dangers or problems.
The term is almost always pejorative—accusing someone of alarmism suggests their warnings are exaggerated or hysterical: Critics dismissed concerns about the new policy as alarmism.
Whether something counts as alarmism often depends on whether the predicted dangers materialize.
Deliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- doomsayingPredicting imminent catastrophe
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
hyperbole · overreaction · hysteria · dramatization · overstatement · pessimism · distortion · amplification
Persistent apprehensive distress
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
unease · trepidation · terror · fright · disquiet · agitation · consternation · foreboding
fearmongering
Deliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- doomsayingPredicting imminent catastrophe
sensationalism · hyperbole · overreaction · hysteria · dramatization · overstatement · pessimism · distortion · amplification · inflation
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
paranoia · unease · trepidation · terror · fright · disquiet · agitation · consternation · foreboding · worry
catastrophe
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- disasterSudden ruinous event
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- apocalypseTotal civilizational collapse
meltdown · collapse · epidemic · pandemic · doomsday · calamity · end-times
alert
Warning or watchfulness
harbinger · omen · forecast · signal · precaution · heads-up · klaxon · tocsin · early-warning
- overreactionsoverreaction, meltdown, tantrum, hissy fit, freakout
- emotional rhetoricpathos, emotional appeal, appeals to emotion, loaded language, loaded words
- fearmongeringscaremongering, fearmongering, scare tactics, fear tactics, panic spreading
- propagandapropaganda, brainwashing, disinformation, misinformation, indoctrination
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- smear tacticssmear, smear campaign, mudslinging, attack ads, hit piece
alarmismlevel-headedness
Balanced, rational temperament
cool-headedness · composure · equanimity · calm · sobriety
alarmismcomplacency
Uncritical satisfaction with oneself
denialism · dismissiveness · nonchalance · insouciance · unconcern
alarmismmeasured response
Controlled, proportional reply
realism · proportionality · pragmatism · rationalism · prudence