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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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 demilitarization
Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025
The multinational force in Kosovo ensured Serbian forces' withdrawal and demilitarized the Kosovo Liberation Army—while also providing security and public safety, supporting humanitarian assistance and refugee return, and coordinating with the UN's governance mission.
—Nir Arielli, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula, also occupied in that war, in exchange for peace with Egypt, and it had been demilitarized, a major Egyptian concession.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
The Sinai Peninsula was demilitarized, and Israeli ships won free passage through the Suez Canal.
—Stephen Neukam, The Hill, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for demilitarization
Verb
That plan would allow Israel to formally annex much of the West Bank and reject the return of Palestinian refugees, in exchange for regional investment and promises of a rump Palestinian state that would be demilitarized and lack sovereignty in any meaningful sense.
—Raja Khalidi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Jan. 2025
The multinational force in Kosovo ensured Serbian forces' withdrawal and demilitarized the Kosovo Liberation Army—while also providing security and public safety, supporting humanitarian assistance and refugee return, and coordinating with the UN's governance mission.
—Nir Arielli, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula, also occupied in that war, in exchange for peace with Egypt, and it had been demilitarized, a major Egyptian concession.
—George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024
The Sinai Peninsula was demilitarized, and Israeli ships won free passage through the Suez Canal.
—Stephen Neukam, The Hill, 29 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for demilitarization
Cite this Entry
“Demilitarization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demilitarization. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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