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disarming

American  
[dis-ahr-ming] / dɪsˈɑr mɪŋ /

adjective

  1. removing or capable of removing hostility, suspicion, etc., as by being charming.

    a disarming smile.
    Synonyms:
    winsome, engaging, winning
disarming British  
/ dɪsˈɑːmɪŋ /

adjective

  1. tending to neutralize or counteract hostility, suspicion, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • disarmingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of disarming

First recorded in 1540–50; disarm + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Gosling is typically terrific, but “Project Hail Mary” is practically tailor-made for his brand of disarming allure.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

The group has sought to present itself as a responsible security partner and has regularly published Telegram posts about everything from assisting local residents to disarming militants.

From Barron's • Jan. 9, 2026

Talks over the second stage have remained stuck due to various disagreements, including Hamas’s opposition to disarming.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

A year after disarming a knife attacker in London's Leicester Square, Abdullah Tanoli reflects on the moment he saved an 11-year-old girl's life and what compelled him to intervene.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

The disarming simplicity of the statement, combined with its quasi-Delphic character, has made the Farewell Address a perennial candidate for historical commentary.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.