disarming 1 of 2

Definition of disarmingnext
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disarming

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verb

present participle of disarm
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as in demilitarizing
to reduce the size and strength of the armed forces of the defeated nation was disarmed so that it would never again be a threat to international order

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 disarming
Adjective
This will be both disarming and believable, allowing your daughter to propose times that are both far off and inconvenient. Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 15 Dec. 2022 What follows instead is a pivotal listen that conveys trauma in an assured yet disarming way. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2021 Then check out the work of Danielle Perez, who delivers jokes about the heaviest of subjects with a breezy openness that’s totally disarming. Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2021 Garments can be gorgeous, disarming, and take your breath away. BostonGlobe.com, 15 Oct. 2021 These are the results when officers choose to draw their most disarming weapon: compassion. Steve Hartman, CBS News, 6 June 2021
Verb
Both view the Lebanese government as still completely incapable of disarming Hezbollah, though both were shocked at the new assertiveness of Beirut as seen by Tuesday’s banishment of Iran’s ambassador. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 26 Mar. 2026 Lebanon's government has sought international help in disarming Hezbollah, which is still a powerful force in Lebanese politics. Npr Staff, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026 Since then, Theroux’s body of work has gained a wider, younger audience who appreciate him as a uniquely empathetic interviewer capable of disarming subjects who others can’t crack. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026 As the embodiment of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Monroe continues to captivate the world, and her aura manages to shine through these pages — disarming you with that megawatt smile. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 17 Mar. 2026 Mills gives off the disarming sense of a secure soul undeterred by whippersnappers who toss around fancy words such as gerontocracy. Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026 But the sheer relentlessness of its joke-cracking bodes well for future, riskier enterprises — as, for that matter, does the natural spark between Matarazzo’s repeatedly foiled would-be swagger and Giambrone’s disarming mama’s-boy act. Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 The Admiral Schley’s High Ball is a lovely and disarming drink, the bright fruit of the pineapple teasing out the honeyed brightness of the dessert wine, with the mild oak from the Irish Whiskey providing structure, a kind of a gentle but present backbone. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, Israel has also been relentlessly bombing Lebanon, with the intention of disarming or wiping out Hezbollah, a paramilitary group backed by Iran which fired rockets at Israel earlier in the war. Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disarming
Adjective
  • In an adorable clip the Duchess of Sussex posted on Instagram last month, her daughter wore a miniature version of one of Markle's go-to silhouettes.
    Hannah Malach, InStyle, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The adorable patch pockets also give them a retro flair that’s hard to compete with.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Most regions in the country are brimming with high-end hotels and charming bed and breakfasts, but staying at an Airbnb is a very Parent Trap move that gives you a closer connection to the area.
    Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2026
  • As charming as this set of tracks is, why release them now?
    Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, the wealthy monarchy of Qatar, which sits on some of the world’s biggest natural gas reserves and maintains a vast and fragile infrastructure to extract it, has taken a much more conciliatory position, calling for immediate de-escalation and a quick return to business.
    Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Criticized by conservatives at home for his conciliatory tone, the reformist politician has also been sidelined by Iran’s adversaries.
    Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Reopening borders is among the challenging issues on the agenda for the phase now underway, which also includes demilitarizing the strip after nearly two decades of Hamas rule and installing a new government to oversee reconstruction.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Other challenging issues include demilitarizing the strip after nearly two decades of Hamas rule and installing a new government to oversee reconstruction.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Cuba’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, publicly acknowledged discussions between the two governments last week and pledged a series of reforms aimed at appeasing Washington, a concession that indicated both the urgency of the domestic crisis and the vulnerability of the regime.
    Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
  • But then appeasing tradition and upending it both at once, which certainly is the pragmatic philosophy of Lyric, always is a tricky matter.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Growing up, Ralph Newman, the Lincoln historian and bookshop owner, was a dear friend of our family and a mentor to me.
    Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Banks wrote a book with Isaac Knapper, the man wrongfully convicted for her father’s murder, calling him a dear friend.
    Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Sweeney stars as Penny Jo, a South Dakota diner waitress with an appealing smile, an ingratiating stammer, a scarf in her hair, and deep reserves of ruthless ambition.
    Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Still, on a moment-to-moment basis, the film has tension, strong character dynamics and sharp individual portraits whose astringency gets alleviated by Gottsagen and James’ more ingratiating turns.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The formula includes soothing hydrators such as glycerin, dimethicone, and glyceryl behenate, plus antioxidants (vitamin E and C derivatives) to help calm and protect the skin.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The design is modern and clean-lined with soaring peaked ceilings, lots of dark wood, soothing white and neutral accents and, importantly, private outdoor space.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Disarming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disarming. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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