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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Recent Examples of demilitarize
Similarly, pausing attacks on energy infrastructure is clearly more advantageous to Russia, as is demilitarizing the Black Sea, given Russia’s dependence on the waterway and the Russian Navy’s extreme – and one-sided – vulnerability to Ukrainian attacks.
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Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
The outcome that Putin wants would be a Ukraine that is permanently stripped of almost 25 percent of its territory, demilitarized, and barred from joining the EU and NATO.
—Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2025
Israel demands that Hamas not continue to control Gaza, that Gaza be demilitarized of heavy weapons, and that senior Hamas military and political leaders in Gaza leave the strip and go into exile, the officials added.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025
Given this history, any Israeli government of the foreseeable future would demand that a Palestinian state be demilitarized, with severe restrictions of the weapons even a police force can carry.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarize
Douglas Schoen, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
The outcome that Putin wants would be a Ukraine that is permanently stripped of almost 25 percent of its territory, demilitarized, and barred from joining the EU and NATO.
—Stephen Hadley, Foreign Affairs, 7 Mar. 2025
Israel demands that Hamas not continue to control Gaza, that Gaza be demilitarized of heavy weapons, and that senior Hamas military and political leaders in Gaza leave the strip and go into exile, the officials added.
—Barak Ravid, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025
Given this history, any Israeli government of the foreseeable future would demand that a Palestinian state be demilitarized, with severe restrictions of the weapons even a police force can carry.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demilitarize
Verb
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His meetings in Lebanon came amid fears that Hezbollah’s refusal to immediately disarm would renew war with Israel after a shaky ceasefire agreement went into effect in November.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
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Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the militant group has so far refused to discuss.—
Alexander Cornwell,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
Verb
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Its influence extended around the world: In 2006, an advertising agency in Bogotá, Colombia, was asked by the government to research, prototype, and launch an ad campaign imploring a group of Marxist-Leninist guerrilla fighters to demobilize.—
Celine Nguyen,
The Atlantic,
24 June 2025
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Kinshasa, meanwhile, would have to facilitate the M23’s transition to a legitimate political party and help its combatants integrate into the Congolese army or demobilize.—
Joshua Z. Walker,
Foreign Affairs,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demilitarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demilitarize. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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