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   dis·arm

   /ˌdisˈärm/

   verb

   • 1. take a weapon or weapons away from (a person, force, or country): "guerrillas had completely disarmed and demobilized their forces" Similar deprive of armstake weapons fromrender defenselessmake powerlessdemilitarizedemobilizeOpposite armmilitarize
   • ▪ (of a country or force) give up or reduce its armed forces or weapons: "the other militias had disarmed by the agreed deadline" Similar lay down arms/weaponsdemilitarizeturn over weaponsdecommission arms/weaponsbecome unarmedliterary:sheathe the swordturn swords into plowsharesOpposite arm
   • ▪ remove the fuse from (a bomb), making it safe: "police yesterday disarmed a parcel bomb" Similar defusedisabledeactivateremove the fuse fromput out of actionmake safemake harmlessOpposite armset
   • 2. allay the hostility or suspicions of: "his tact and political skills will disarm critics" Similar win overcharmundermine someone's resistancesweetenpersuadeconvertmollifyappeaseplacatepacifyconciliatehumorpropitiateOpposite antagonize
   • ▪ deprive of the power to injure or hurt: "camp humor acts to provoke rather than disarm moral indignation"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French desarmer.

   Scrabble Points: 9

   • D

     2

   • I

     1

   • S

     1

   • A

     1

   • R

     1

   • M

     3

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