disarm

UK: /ˌdɪsˈɑː^rm/ US: /dɪsˈɑrm/ ,(dis ärm′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•arm /dɪsˈɑrm/   v. 

1. Military to take away weapons from (someone):
   [~ + object] The police disarmed the remaining suspects.
2. Military to remove the fuze or other activating device from:
   [~ + object] to disarm a bomb.
3. to deprive of the means of attack or defense:
   [~ + object] He was disarmed by her logic.
4. to take away or remove anger, suspicion, etc.;
   win the affection or approval of;
   charm:
   [~ + object] She can always disarm me with one of her happy little smiles.
5. Military (of a country) to reduce or limit armed forces:
   [no object] The superpowers never agreed to disarm.

See -arm-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•arm  (dis ärm′), v.t. 

1. Military to deprive of a weapon or weapons.
2. Military to remove the fuze or other actuating device from:
   to disarm a bomb.
3. to deprive of the means of attack or defense:
   The lack of logic disarmed his argument.
4. to divest or relieve of hostility, suspicion, etc.;
   win the affection or approval of;
   charm:
   His smile disarmed us.

v.i. 

5. Military to lay down one's weapons.
6. Military (of a country) to reduce or limit the size, equipment, armament, etc., of the army, navy, or air force.

• Old French desarmer. See dis-¹, arm²
• Middle English 1325–75

dis•arm′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

disarm / dɪsˈɑːm/ verb

1. (transitive) to remove defensive or offensive capability from (a country, army, etc)
2. (transitive) to deprive of weapons
3. (transitive) to win the confidence or affection of
4. (intransitive) (of a nation, etc) to decrease the size and capability of one's armed forces
5. (intransitive) to lay down weapons

disˈarmer noun