as in disarmament
the reduction or elimination of a country's armed forces or weapons
the demilitarization of some formerly warlike nations that occurred in the aftermath of World War II
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to disarm
to reduce the size and strength of the armed forces of
the two nations agreed to demilitarize themselves reciprocally in hopes of avoiding war
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demilitarization
Galip Dalay, Time, 19 Aug. 2025
Those include ending Ukraine's NATO ambitions, demilitarization, and ceding land claimed by Russia.
—Charles Maynes, NPR, 14 Aug. 2025
Roger Cohen, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Ukraine and European allies stressed that Kyiv must have the ability to adequately equip and man its own army, but Putin would have to concede on his goal of demilitarizing Ukraine.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarization
Noun
In any peace talks, Russia will try to seek demilitarization of Ukraine and severe limitations on its militarization and security partnerships with NATO and Europe, which would render Ukraine perennially vulnerable and endanger European security.
—Galip Dalay, Time, 19 Aug. 2025
Those include ending Ukraine's NATO ambitions, demilitarization, and ceding land claimed by Russia.
—Charles Maynes, NPR, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
Germany, obliged by history to demilitarize, but conscious that this posture has run its course, almost certainly holds the key to any such transformation.
—Roger Cohen, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Ukraine and European allies stressed that Kyiv must have the ability to adequately equip and man its own army, but Putin would have to concede on his goal of demilitarizing Ukraine.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarization
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demilitarization
Noun
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After Lebanon’s civil war ended in 1990, Hezbollah expanded its influence across politics and society by remaining armed – unlike other militias, it was exempted from disarmament under the Taif Agreement due to its role in resisting Israeli occupation.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
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Morrison’s career echoes the arc of many Manhattan Project scientists, who went from believing that only a nuclear weapon could bring peace to believing that only disarmament could bring peace.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And in an online landscape flooded with sales pitches, the honest awkwardness is disarming.—
Leeron Walter,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Lebanon’s military has the difficult task of disarming Hezbollah while preserving peace among the country’s factions.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the eyes of his critics, Zelensky has allowed too many Ukrainians to remain physically and mentally demobilized, placing a greater burden on those already exhausted by years of fighting.—
NATALIYA GUMENYUK,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Aug. 2025
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Israel wants Hezbollah, the Lebanese militia that took a beating during its war with Israel last fall, disarmed and demobilized.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demilitarization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demilitarization. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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