disarm

B2 Topic:War & Conflict

US /dɪsˈɑɹm/ UK /dɪsˈɑː(ɹ)m/ See IPA manual

Freq #13404

Meanings

1

verb
to take a weapon or the means of attack away from a person or group

The officer persuaded the gunman to surrender and then disarmed him.
2

verb
to reduce or give up military weapons or forces

Both countries agreed to disarm under international supervision.
3

verb
to deactivate an alarm, explosive, or security system

She entered the code to disarm the alarm before opening the door.
4

verb
to make someone less hostile, suspicious, or angry

His candid apology disarmed even his harshest critic.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to take a weapon or the... unarmdeprive of weapons

2 verb · to reduce or give up... demilitarizedecommission

3 verb · to deactivate an alarm,... deactivate disable

4 verb · to make someone less... placate mollify charm

Opposites

armweaponizeactivate provoke

Word family

Forms disarmamentdisarmed

Derived forms disarmamentdisarmerdisarming

Related forms weapon armsdemilitarization

Etymology

From Middle English desarmen, from Anglo-Norman desarmer, formed with des- (the source of English dis-) + armer ("to arm"). The figurative sense developed from removing physical defenses to removing hostility or suspicion.

Topics

War & Conflict

External links

# disarm

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /dɪsˈɑɹm/
**IPA (UK):** /dɪsˈɑː(ɹ)m/
**Frequency rank:** 13404

## Meanings
1. to take a weapon or the means of attack away from a person or group
2. to reduce or give up military weapons or forces
3. to deactivate an alarm, explosive, or security system
4. to make someone less hostile, suspicious, or angry

## Examples
- The officer persuaded the gunman to surrender and then disarmed him.
- Both countries agreed to disarm under international supervision.
- She entered the code to disarm the alarm before opening the door.
- His candid apology disarmed even his harshest critic.

## Synonyms
- unarm
- demilitarize
- deactivate
- placate

## Antonyms
- arm
- weaponize
- activate
- provoke

## Derived Forms
- disarmament
- disarmer
- disarming

## Related Forms
- weapon
- arms
- demilitarization

## Etymology
From Middle English desarmen, from Anglo-Norman desarmer, formed with des- (the source of English dis-) + armer ("to arm"). The figurative sense developed from removing physical defenses to removing hostility or suspicion.

## Topics
- War & Conflict

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