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
Mick Krever, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
If Israel cannot fully remove Hamas from power, demilitarize the strip, and back a new authority in Gaza, then Hamas will likely reconstitute itself and fight another day.
—John Spencer, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2024
The Biden administration says the basis for any cease-fire deal is to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which would require a wide swath of southern Lebanon to be demilitarized, up to the Litani River.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2024
The answer is clear: empower and support Israel to finish the job, comprehensively defeating and demilitarizing Hezbollah and transferring control of Lebanon back to the Lebanese people and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demilitarization 
Verb
Until Sunday, the summit was demilitarized and patrolled by UN peacekeepers – their highest permanent position in the world.
—Mick Krever, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
If Israel cannot fully remove Hamas from power, demilitarize the strip, and back a new authority in Gaza, then Hamas will likely reconstitute itself and fight another day.
—John Spencer, Foreign Affairs, 21 Aug. 2024
The Biden administration says the basis for any cease-fire deal is to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which would require a wide swath of southern Lebanon to be demilitarized, up to the Litani River.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 31 Oct. 2024
The answer is clear: empower and support Israel to finish the job, comprehensively defeating and demilitarizing Hezbollah and transferring control of Lebanon back to the Lebanese people and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for demilitarization
Thesaurus Entries Near demilitarization
Cite this Entry
“Demilitarization.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demilitarization. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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