alarmist
Crier of wolf
An alarmist is someone who raises alarm about dangers that may be exaggerated or unfounded, or who habitually predicts disaster.
The term is usually dismissive: Critics called him an alarmist for warning about climate change.
As an adjective, alarmist describes such behavior or rhetoric: alarmist predictions, alarmist headlines.
The word implies the alarm is disproportionate to actual risk.
One spreading exaggerated fears
- fearmongerOne who stokes alarm
- doomsayerPredictor of catastrophe
- catastrophistOne expecting sudden calamities
- CassandraIgnored prophet of doom
Chicken Little · prophet of doom · pessimist · gloomster · naysayer · worrywart · fussbudget · fretter
Rhetorical extreme exaggeration
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
overblown · exaggerated · apocalyptic · scare tactics · shock value · clickbait · tabloid · yellow journalism
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- hysteriaUncontrollable emotional excess
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- paranoiaIrrational persecution fears
fear · dread · frenzy · mass hysteria · irrationality · stampede · uproar · outcry
Deliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- doomsayingPredicting imminent catastrophe
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
- overreactingDisproportionate emotional response
exaggerating · dramatizing · inflating · embellishing · magnifying · distorting · crying wolf · doom-and-gloom
scaremonger
One spreading exaggerated fears
- fearmongerOne who stokes alarm
- doomsayerPredictor of catastrophe
- catastrophistOne expecting sudden calamities
Cassandra · Chicken Little · prophet of doom · pessimist · gloomster · naysayer · worrywart · fussbudget · fretter · hypochondriac
hyperbole
Rhetorical extreme exaggeration
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- inflammatoryTending to provoke outrage
provocative · overblown · exaggerated · apocalyptic · scare tactics · shock value · clickbait · tabloid · yellow journalism · panic-inducing
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- hysteriaUncontrollable emotional excess
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
paranoia · fear · dread · frenzy · mass hysteria · irrationality · stampede · uproar · outcry · backlash
fearmongering
Deliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
- doomsayingPredicting imminent catastrophe
- scaremongeringSpreading exaggerated threats
overreacting · exaggerating · dramatizing · inflating · embellishing · magnifying · distorting · crying wolf · doom-and-gloom · hand-wringing
- criticscritic, critics, criticizer, criticizers, faultfinder
- cowardscoward, chicken, wimp, milquetoast, poltroon
- phobicsagoraphobe, claustrophobe, arachnophobe, hydrophobe, germaphobe
- grumpsgrouch, grump, curmudgeon, sourpuss, crank
alarmistreassurer
One who calms fears
soother · comforter · pacifier · minimizer · downplayer
alarmistrealist
One accepting hard truths
down-to-earth · pragmatist · denialist · skeptic · Pollyanna