disarming
adjective
dis·arm·ing dis-ˈär-miŋ 
diz-,
ˈdis-ˌär-
: allaying criticism or hostility : ingratiating
a disarming smile
disarmingly
dis-ˈär-miŋ-lē
adverb diz-
ˈdis-ˌär-
Did you know?
When Should You Use disarming?
A defeated country is sometimes forced to disarm (give up its weapons), and research may be aimed at disarming a deadly virus (making it incapable of doing damage). But the meaning of the adjective disarming isn't quite so physical. If you say your nephew has a disarming smile, you mean that his smile's warmth and genuineness disarm the people he meets of any possible suspicion or criticism and of any verbal weapons they might have used against him.
Synonyms
- adorable
- darling
- dear
- endearing
- lovable
- loveable
- lovesome
- precious
- sweet
- winning
- winsome
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
We were all charmed by his disarming openness and modesty. a thoroughly disarming little rascal who can talk his way out of any trouble
Recent Examples on the Web Clumsy, swaggering, disarming, stupid, cowardly or naive; ill-intentioned, unaware, incapable or uncaring. 
Anna Zanardi Cappon, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021 What follows instead is a pivotal listen that conveys trauma in an assured yet disarming way. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2021 Then check out the work of Danielle Perez, who delivers jokes about the heaviest of subjects with a breezy openness that’s totally disarming. Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2021 Sara a rare mix of timidity and courage that’s unwaveringly disarming. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Nov. 2021 Garments can be gorgeous, disarming, and take your breath away. BostonGlobe.com, 15 Oct. 2021 Then there are the green track suits with their utilitarian, dehumanizing number badges; there’s the shot of Gong Yoo, calm and disarming, holding up the two red and blue ddakji envelopes. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2021 By contrast, Stephen Fry’s narration on video was charming and disarming. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2021 These are the results when officers choose to draw their most disarming weapon: compassion. Steve Hartman, CBS News, 6 June 2021 See More
Anna Zanardi Cappon, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021 What follows instead is a pivotal listen that conveys trauma in an assured yet disarming way. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 8 Dec. 2021 Then check out the work of Danielle Perez, who delivers jokes about the heaviest of subjects with a breezy openness that’s totally disarming. Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2021 Sara a rare mix of timidity and courage that’s unwaveringly disarming. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Nov. 2021 Garments can be gorgeous, disarming, and take your breath away. BostonGlobe.com, 15 Oct. 2021 Then there are the green track suits with their utilitarian, dehumanizing number badges; there’s the shot of Gong Yoo, calm and disarming, holding up the two red and blue ddakji envelopes. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2021 By contrast, Stephen Fry’s narration on video was charming and disarming. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2021 These are the results when officers choose to draw their most disarming weapon: compassion. Steve Hartman, CBS News, 6 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
from present participle of disarm
First Known Use
1839, in the meaning defined above
disarming 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in adorable
having qualities that tend to make one loved a thoroughly disarming little rascal who can talk his way out of any trouble Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- adorable
- dear
- sweet
- charming
- endearing
- beautiful
- loved
- lovable
- winsome
- lovely
- winning
- precious
- enchanting
- darling
- loveable
- attractive
- appealing
- engaging
- captivating
- delightful
- beloved
- cherished
- lovesome
- desirable
- favored
- alluring
- entrancing
- admirable
- embraceable
- fascinating
- kind
- likable
- cheerful
- treasured
- fetching
- pleasant
- pleasing
- kissable
- favorite
- gracious
- affable
- likeable
- friendly
- good-natured
- genial
- agreeable
- nice
- cordial
- respectable
- reputable
- well-disposed
- good-tempered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- offensive
- detestable
- odious
- loathsome
- abhorrent
- hateful
- unpleasant
- disagreeable
- abominable
- grotesque
- horrible
- distasteful
- contemptible
- repulsive
- disgusting
- wretched
- heinous
- repugnant
- nasty
- monstrous
- repellent
- shocking
- unlovable
- hideous
- frightful
- unattractive
- lousy
- ugly
- revolting
- unloved
- sickening
- appalling
- obnoxious
- vile
- awful
- unlikable
- scandalous
- nauseating
- dreadful
- repellant
- ogreish
- unsightly
- obscene
- horrid
- foul
- noisome
- horrendous
- ill-favored
2
as in charming
likely or intended to win one's affection there's a disarming lack of pretension about the girl Synonyms & Similar Words
- charming
- affecting
- ingratiating
- adorable
- winning
- endearing
- insinuating
- touching
- winsome
- likable
- lovable
- likeable
- loveable
- poignant
- deferential
- kowtowing
- servile
- effusive
- flattering
- drooling
- obsequious
- sycophantic
- slobbering
- saccharine
- groveling
- slavering
- soapy
- adulatory
- sugary
- oleaginous
- grovelling
- unctuous
- fulsome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- alienating
- uningratiating
- repulsive
- disaffecting
- repugnant
- displeasing
- unendearing
- arrogant
- insolent
- haughty
- scornful
- proud
- disdainful
3
as in pacifying
tending to lessen or avoid conflict or hostility the secretary's disarming smile made me forget why I was angry Synonyms & Similar Words
- pacifying
- mollifying
- appeasing
- conciliating
- placating
- quieting
- peacemaking
- soothing
- calming
- conciliatory
- comforting
- placatory
- peaceful
- kind
- ingratiating
- benevolent
- pacific
- satisfying
- gentle
- relaxing
- endearing
- propitiatory
- peaceable
- winning
- tranquilizing
- winsome
- kindly
- lulling
- obliging
- surrendering
- tranquillizing
- nonbelligerent
- passive
- amiable
- unassertive
- unaggressive
- affable
- yielding
- good-natured
- genial
- submissive
- amicable
- agreeable
- good-tempered
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- provoking
- provocative
- aggravating
- engaging
- irritating
- inflammatory
- offensive
- annoying
- exasperating
- maddening
- abrasive
- antagonizing
- frustrating
- vexing
- infuriating
- irksome
- hostile
- nagging
- maddening
- galling
- antagonistic
- nettling
- riling
- confrontational
- unfriendly
- nettlesome
- combative
- belligerent
- military
- aggressive
- inhospitable
- inimical
- assertive
- antipathetic
- pugnacious
- bellicose
- rankling
- unsympathetic
- warlike
- incensing
- chafing
- truculent
- militaristic
- militant
- martial
- quarrelsome
- contentious
- argumentative
- scrappy
- agonistic
disarming
2 of 2verb
1
as in demilitarizing
to reduce the size and strength of the armed forces of the defeated nation was disarmed so that it would never again be a threat to international order Synonyms & Similar Words
- demilitarizing
- demobilizing
- denuclearizing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- arming
- militarizing
- equipping
- mobilizing
- reequipping
- mechanizing
- weaponing
- re-equipping
- embattling
2
as in appeasing
to lessen the anger or agitation of her future father-in-law was totally disarmed by her easy charm Synonyms & Similar Words
- appeasing
- comforting
- calming
- pacifying
- soothing
- placating
- mollifying
- conciliating
- consoling
- pleasing
- satisfying
- ingratiating
- propitiating
- assuaging
- quieting
- delighting
- tranquilizing
- gentling
- gratifying
- tranquillizing
- coaxing
- humoring
- contenting
- flattering
- cajoling
- hushing
- satiating
- gladdening
- wheedling
- mollycoddling
- adulating
- spoiling
- coddling
- sweet-talking
- indulging
- overpraising
- pampering
- quenching
- babying
- sweetening
- sating
- blandishing
- endearing (to)
- dulcifying
- blarneying
- catering (to)
- soft-soaping
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- infuriating
- enraging
- antagonizing
- angering
- inflaming
- provoking
- aggravating
- maddening
- irritating
- outraging
- crossing
- incensing
- rousing
- exasperating
- annoying
- riling
- nettling
- getting
- vexing
- bothering
- bugging
- enflaming
- iring
- grating
- ruffling
- burning (up)
- harassing
- piquing
- irking
- galling
- roiling
- rankling
- chafing
- persecuting
- disturbing
- perturbing
- upsetting
- unsettling
- agitating
- distressing
- putting out
- harrying
- pestering
- discomforting
- insulting
- unhinging
- offending
- worrying
- affronting
- peeving
- fretting
- slighting