arms 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of arm
as in guns
a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder soldiers grabbing their arms and helmets and heading into battle

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arms

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of arm
1
as in departments
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization a company that needs to beef up its marketing arm if it wants to compete in today's business world

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2
as in bays
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline this arm of the Atlantic is surprisingly peaceful, as the stronger ocean currents do not reach this far

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3
as in capes
an area of land that juts out into a body of water Maine has so many long, narrow arms that jut out into the ocean that early coastal settlers found it much easier to travel by sea

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4
as in powers
the right or means to command or control others few criminals manage to permanently escape the long arm of the law

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

arms

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of arm
as in fortifies

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Dissimilar Words

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 arms
Noun
Be sure to cover your head and neck with your arms, and crawl under a sturdy table if possible. — Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026 Beneath a diaphanous white veil, four family members sit together on tan leather chairs, the woman in the center holding a baby in her arms. — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 14 July 2026 Laura shook out her new arms, from the socket to the fingertip. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 By contrast, a forward sprinkler is more like a rotating rocket, with jets shooting out of its arms. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026 Furthermore, the study demonstrated that modifying the contours of the arms allows for precise control over internal fluid flows. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026 The first shot sees Haaland sitting in a folding chair with his arms strongly crossed while wearing his red, white and blue kit. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026 The next generation of defense winners could increasingly resemble software and AI companies instead of conventional arms manufacturers, Klement said. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arms
  1. guns
  2. departments
  3. bays
  4. capes
  5. powers
  6. fortifies
  7. firearms
  8. agencies
Noun
  • The Rahimi decision saved Bruen’s originalism by reinterpreting it as a history and tradition principle that could be used to uphold a ban on domestic abusers owning guns.
    — Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 14 July 2026
  • This makes no sense to allow more guns when gun deaths happen even on a holiday.
    — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026
Definition of guns
Noun
  • Local police departments and private vessels also responded, Crispen said.
    — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 15 July 2026
  • According to a July 14 press release from CalHR, the recent pilot focused on hiring for Analyst I, Analyst II and Student Assistant positions in the participating departments.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of departments
Noun
  • To accommodate setbacks and height restrictions, the house rises four stories, with bays and recesses that break up the massing so the house doesn’t loom over its neighbors.
    — Fred Albert, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • While initial trials proved highly precise, researchers must now test the system across a wider range of marine environments, from murky Atlantic channels to deep Pacific bays.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of bays
Noun
  • Families, friends and members of the community cheered for about 50 children during the parade, some decked out in Viking helmets and capes, while others sported the blue and yellow colors of the Swedish flag with floral crowns in their hair.
    — Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
  • Revellers in Knicks capes pleaded their cases fruitlessly.
    — Dan Greene, New Yorker, 20 June 2026
Definition of capes
Noun
  • Spain is deepening its embrace of the Chinese car industry even as other European powers call for protectionist measures to shield local automakers.
    — J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 16 July 2026
  • The Supreme Court didn’t buy it, ruling in February that the president couldn’t use the emergency powers law to impose tariffs at all.
    — Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Definition of powers
Verb
  • Inside, soy proteins repair and strengthen, copper peptides stimulate keratin production–aka the protein that fortifies and minimizes frizz–and pro-B vitamins amplify fullness.
    — Ellie Davis, Vogue, 25 June 2026
  • The Olive and June product can also be applied daily to bare nails as an intensive strengthening treatment that not only fortifies your claws, but also repairs ridges, discoloration, and pesky peeling along the way.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 3 June 2026
Definition of fortifies
Noun
  • Teri handled higher-value finds and saw that potentially dangerous items – like firearms and knives – got to the local sheriff’s office.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Many of the firearms are believed to have been stolen, and could be linked to crimes in the region, federal officials said.
    — Mark Price July 5, Charlotte Observer, 5 July 2026
Definition of firearms
Noun
  • Dozens of mostly smaller law enforcement agencies have severed their ties to Flock in recent months.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Tunnel walks have evolved from viral social media moments into marketing platforms for luxury brands, agencies and media companies, giving athletes new ways to shape their identities, engage fans and expand brand visibility.
    — Nethumi Kannangara, Sportico.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of agencies

Phrases Containing arms

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armpits
arms
arm-twist
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Cite this Entry

“Arms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arms. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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