French Conversation · Level 57
74 words
French word
désarmer
Pronunciation
IPA/dezaʁme/
Meaning
- verbdisarm
Example
Après l'accord, l'armée a désarmé les milices.
After the agreement, the army disarmed the militias.
More examples
Le policier a désarmé le suspect sans violence.
The police officer disarmed the suspect without violence.
Core concept
A person or group loses the means to oppose another, whether those means are weapons or arguments.
Common phrases
désarmer quelqu'un
disarm someone
désarmer un suspect
disarm a suspect
Similar words
désamorcer: Remove the danger from an explosive or ease tension in a situation.
neutraliser: Stop an opponent or force from producing any harmful effect.
amadouer: Win someone's cooperation by using kindness or flattery to lower their guard.
Definition in French
Enlever les armes à une personne ou à une force; par extension, priver quelqu'un de la capacité de répliquer ou de résister.
Word origin
The verb was formed from dé- and armer, whose Latin source armare means to equip with weapons; its figurative sense developed from this literal action.
Usage tips
- In figurative use, désarmer quelqu'un can mean to leave someone without an effective reply, so the object need not be a physical weapon.
Other meanings
- neutralizeverb
Opposites
- armerarmverb
Related words
- désarmementdisarmamentnoun
- désarmédisarmedadjective