verb
disarm
dihs-AHM
verb
1
To take weapons away from someone.
"The officer disarmed the suspect before making the arrest."
2
To reduce a country's military weapons and forces.
"Both nations agreed to disarm as part of the peace treaty."
3
To win someone's trust or ease their hostility, often with charm.
"His warm smile disarmed even the toughest critics."
How to Use Disarm
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take away someone's weapons or defenses — literally in combat, or figuratively by charming them into dropping their guard.
Common pairings
disarm a suspect
disarm critics
agree to disarm
Word Forms
disarmed past tense, disarms plural, disarms singular
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Etymology
From Middle English desarmen, from Anglo-Norman desarmer.