as in gun
a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder
soldiers grabbing their arms and helmets and heading into battle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in department
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization
a company that needs to beef up its marketing arm if it wants to compete in today's business world
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in bay
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline
this arm of the Atlantic is surprisingly peaceful, as the stronger ocean currents do not reach this far
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in peninsula
an area of land that juts out into a body of water
Maine has so many long, narrow arms that jut out into the ocean that early coastal settlers found it much easier to travel by sea
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in power
the right or means to command or control others
few criminals manage to permanently escape the long arm of the law
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to portion
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of arm
Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Roughly 60% of the naval arm of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains intact, despite statements from the White House and Pentagon suggesting otherwise, the sources said.
—April 30, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Chad S.a. Gibbs, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
The leak could also give hackers a major leg up in their efforts to identify exploitable software vulnerabilities — or find new ways to arm their own instances of Claude Code for nefarious purposes.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arm
Noun
Police said the man resisted, bit the officer on the arm and tried to gain control of his weapons.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
Roughly 60% of the naval arm of Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps remains intact, despite statements from the White House and Pentagon suggesting otherwise, the sources said.
—April 30, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
However, the women held there stole as many as eight rifles from guards to arm the revolt.
—Chad S.a. Gibbs, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
The leak could also give hackers a major leg up in their efforts to identify exploitable software vulnerabilities — or find new ways to arm their own instances of Claude Code for nefarious purposes.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arm
Verb
-
For the easiest reheating, consider portioning the grits into individual servings before freezing.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
-
According to the company, the meals are portioned for smaller appetites, provide at least 20 grams (g) of protein, and include nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, or potassium, depending on the item.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Breslow’s job was to fortify that group, and his trade for first baseman Willson Contreras was not enough of an answer.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Particularly so at the positions that Denver still needs to fortify.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All of that was on plenty of minds as the audience started on spring pea and burrata salad and waiters prepared to serve a main course starring prime chateaubriand and Maine lobster.—
Calvin Woodward,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
If suspicious activity is detected, users receive support from fraud resolution specialists who help contact agencies, prepare documentation, and dispute unauthorized accounts.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Each Chargers scout receives one blue star to hand out to a single prospect in a draft.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
And would the president appear — as others have at past WHCDs — to hand out awards to journalists who have done work that investigated him or the White House or revealed unsavory things about his time in it?—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
They are allotted 90 days to work with each patient, usually during home visits.—
Paula Span,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Clarkson filed another lawsuit against her ex and the management company, claiming she should get paid more than the amount allotted.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The State Grid Corporation of China has allocated approximately $1 billion for the initiative, signalling a major push to integrate robotics into critical national systems.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Hill didn’t make any specific recommendations for how to allocate any extra money.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arm. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
