disarm

verb

dis·​arm dis-ˈärm 

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

ˌdis-ˈär-mə-mənt 

noun

disarmer noun

Synonyms of disarm

• demilitarize
• demobilize

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

Progress toward further phases, including disarming Hamas, reconstruction and transferring power, is stalled. —Sam Metz, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026

Well, the Democrats are not going to unilaterally disarm. —NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026

In it, the cameraperson lifts a gun in a parking lot and targets Staples, who tries and fails to disarm them, before entering a diner to stage a mass shooting. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 26 Apr. 2026

Progress toward further phases, including disarming Hamas, reconstruction and transferring power, is stalled. —Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for disarm

• alarm
• forearm
• gendarme
• nonfarm
• rearm
• arm
• charm
• farm
• harm
• firearm
• underarm

Kids Definition

disarm

verb

dis·​arm (ˈ)dis-ˈärm 

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

-ˈär-mə-mənt 

noun