disarm

verb

dis·​arm dis-ˈärm How to pronounce disarm (audio)
diz-,
ˈdis-ˌärm
disarmed; disarming; disarms

transitive verb

1
a
: to deprive of means, reason, or disposition to be hostile
disarmed criticism by admitting her errors
b
: to win over
2
a
: to divest of arms
disarm captured troops
b
: to deprive of a means of attack or defense
disarm a ship
c
: to make harmless
disarm a bomb

intransitive verb

1
: to lay aside arms
2
: to give up or reduce armed forces
disarmament noun
disarmer noun

Examples of disarm in a Sentence

The government has been unsuccessful at disarming the rebels. The terrorists have refused to disarm. It took more than an hour to disarm the bomb.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The juvenile was safely disarmed, taken off campus without incident, and is receiving mental health assistance, police said. Bay City News Service, The Mercury News, 27 Oct. 2024 Humor in a song is a way a lot of times to disarm somebody… to disarm and also attract. Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Oct. 2024 Translating the new model’s complex curves to desktop scale is no small feat, but one that Amalgam Collection has achieved with disarming accuracy. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2024 The Lebanese government, whether out of incompetence, negligence, or malice, never disarmed Hezbollah within its borders following the resolution’s approval. Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for disarm 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English desarmen, literally, to divest of arms, from Anglo-French desarmer, from des- dis- + armer to arm

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of disarm was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near disarm

Cite this Entry

“Disarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disarm. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

disarm

verb
dis·​arm (ˈ)dis-ˈärm How to pronounce disarm (audio)
1
: to take weapons from
disarm a prisoner
2
: to reduce the size and strength of the armed forces of a country
3
: to make harmless, peaceable, or friendly : remove dislike or suspicion
a disarming smile
disarmament noun

More from Merriam-Webster on disarm

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