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
The American ceasefire plan being negotiated this week could allow Israel's military to remain inside the Gaza Strip, and Israel has been calling for Hamas to be entirely demilitarized.
—
Emily Feng, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
The Israeli government declared war on Hamas in the immediate aftermath of the attack with leaders expressing the goal to completely demilitarize Hamas and to remove them from power in Gaza.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2025
Europe is remilitarizing after decades of demilitarizing.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated his government's longstanding demands that Ukraine be demilitarized and stop trying to be allied with the West.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarize
Emily Feng, NPR, 7 Oct. 2025
The Israeli government declared war on Hamas in the immediate aftermath of the attack with leaders expressing the goal to completely demilitarize Hamas and to remove them from power in Gaza.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2025
Europe is remilitarizing after decades of demilitarizing.
—John Rennie Short, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025
Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated his government's longstanding demands that Ukraine be demilitarized and stop trying to be allied with the West.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demilitarize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demilitarize
Verb
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Israel’s military still occupies roughly 50% of Gaza, and the ceasefire agreement stipulates that its withdrawal is contingent on Hamas disarming — two sticking points in the ceasefire deal that have yet to be worked out.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
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The ceasefire is still working through kinks, as Hamas has refused to disarm despite the terms of the deal.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Oct. 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
“Demilitarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demilitarize. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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