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
Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
Israel and Hamas remain divided over the timeline and scope of Israel's withdrawal and the demilitarization of the enclave after nearly two decades of Hamas rule.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Zelensky has said that Ukrainian forces would be willing to leave the eastern part of the country if Russian troops also withdraw and the area becomes demilitarized, with an international coalition monitoring the region.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarization
Noun
For a third year in a row, many Palestinians living in Gaza are currently observing Ramadan from tents amid the rubble of their former homes, with reconstruction among the monumental challenges that lie ahead for the peace process, as well as securing the demilitarization of Hamas.
—Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
Israel and Hamas remain divided over the timeline and scope of Israel's withdrawal and the demilitarization of the enclave after nearly two decades of Hamas rule.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
That phase includes limited border reopenings, efforts to demilitarize Gaza and discussions over postwar governance.
—Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Zelensky has said that Ukrainian forces would be willing to leave the eastern part of the country if Russian troops also withdraw and the area becomes demilitarized, with an international coalition monitoring the region.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarization
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demilitarization
Noun
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On paper, the Lebanese state has a mandate for disarmament.—
Euan Ward,
New Yorker,
29 May 2026
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Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to resume talks with Kim, but Pyongyang has so far ignored the overtures and urged Washington to drop demands for the North’s nuclear disarmament as a precondition for talks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 May 2026
Verb
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The government has promised to do so in the past but does not have the capabilities to disarm Hezbollah by force.—
Bassem Mroue,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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The Lebanese government, which wants Hezbollah to disarm, has begun direct negotiations with Israel today.—
Harriet Marsden,
TheWeek,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The bet was that engaging with several forces at the same time would avoid power vacuums that are quickly filled when one group demobilizes.—
Roberto Andrés,
The Dial,
28 May 2026
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Firefighters and equipment are starting to be demobilized as the Incident Management Team transfers command back to local authorities.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demilitarization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demilitarization. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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