as in to demilitarize
to release (someone or something) from military service
Both leaders agreed to demobilize their armies and sign the peace treaty. Ships returned to port to be demobilized.
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Recent Examples of demobilize
The Army Corps and its contractors initially aimed to demobilize by Jan. 8, 2026, the one-year anniversary of the fires, but federal cleanup efforts finished much earlier than expected.
—
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
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
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
The state incident management team demobilized July 23, the county said.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demobilize
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
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
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
The state incident management team demobilized July 23, the county said.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for demobilize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demobilize
Verb
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Israel’s defense minister says hundreds of thousands of people uprooted from southern Lebanon will not be allowed to return home until the area is demilitarized and Israel believes its northern communities are safe.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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Then there is the intent to demilitarize Ukraine.—
Olivier Kempf,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Speaking at a ruling party congress last month, Kim laid out his vision for more nuclear development, while urging the US to drop its longstanding demand that his country denuclearize before any dialogue can resume.—
Soo-hyang Choi,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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Even if that were not the case, the major terror groups are radically reduced in effectiveness, their sponsor in Tehran is denuclearized and contained, more countries are signing or preparing to agree to peace, investment is flowing and Russia and China have fled the scene.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The Israeli government has called on the Lebanese government to do more to pressure Hezbollah into disarming.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2026
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Any attempt to disarm Hezbollah risks civil war.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demobilize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demobilize. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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