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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Still, Hamas refuses to disarm.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
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Hairston was charged with resisting an officer with violence, attempting to disarm a law enforcement officer, kidnapping and child abuse, officials said.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Analysts note that Syria’s security environment remains shaped by former jihadist networks that were never fully demobilized after the war.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
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In the 1970s, the Soviet Union enjoyed an advantageous shift in nuclear and conventional capabilities relative to the United States, which was demobilizing after the Vietnam War.—
Caleb Pomeroy,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Demilitarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demilitarize. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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