arms 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of arm
as in guns
a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder soldiers grabbing their arms and helmets and heading into battle

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arms

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of arm
1
as in departments
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization a company that needs to beef up its marketing arm if it wants to compete in today's business world

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2
as in bays
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline this arm of the Atlantic is surprisingly peaceful, as the stronger ocean currents do not reach this far

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3
as in capes
an area of land that juts out into a body of water Maine has so many long, narrow arms that jut out into the ocean that early coastal settlers found it much easier to travel by sea

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4
as in powers
the right or means to command or control others few criminals manage to permanently escape the long arm of the law

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

arms

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of arm
as in fortifies

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of arms
Noun
The distinctive frame already resembles the aircraft that will eventually soar through Titan’s dense orange skies, complete with landing skids, support arms for its eight rotors and the housing for its nuclear power system. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 And the only thing really falling seems to be US military readiness, as key arms stockpiles are rapidly depleted. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 Russia, along with China, is a major supporter and arms supplier to Myanmar. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026 Its seven principal structures are said to resemble the head, heart, waist, arms and knees of the seated Buddha; in three of them, none of the training monks are allowed to speak. — Pico Iyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2026 During her own pregnancy, Panettiere recalled becoming frightened when an OB-GYN told her that her baby’s arms and legs did not appear to be growing as quickly as the rest of her body. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 Baumgärtner envisions scaling the technology into facilities with multiple robotic arms equipped with different tools. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Annie Morgan wrapped her arms around her eldest daughter’s waist and guided her toward the minivan, the two of them moving in a slow, sideways shuffle. — Ariana Eunjung Cha, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2026 Pegasus, which is an advanced spyware developed by the Israeli cyber-arms company NSO Group, is officially sold exclusively to national governments, military, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies. — Miguel MacIas, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arms
  1. guns
  2. departments
  3. bays
  4. capes
  5. powers
  6. fortifies
  7. firearms
  8. agencies
Noun
  • Prosecutors had said that Laster and Rozier, longtime friends, were part of a group called GMB that publicly flaunted its access to guns and that Laster allegedly relied on to intimidate witnesses.
    — Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Thailand has the highest rate of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia, with around 15 guns per 100 people.
    — Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of guns
Noun
  • They have been used in recent years by some jails and police departments.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The layoffs affected departments across the museum, including programs, development, and exhibitions, and leave the total staff count at 118.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of departments
Noun
  • The Monochrome cruise missile is based on the S-71 Kovyor and is designed for carriage inside the weapons bays of the Su-57 fighter jet and S-70 Okhotnik drone.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026
  • River otters are not to be confused with sea otters, which live in the ocean, bays and harbors and can grow to be up to five feet and 100 pounds.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of bays
Noun
  • But these capes are actually flexible antennae that will allow the craft to peer beneath the Red Planet's surface in search of water ice.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Faena staff in luxurious red capes circled around them, serving light bites and cold martinis.
    — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 30 July 2026
Definition of capes
Noun
  • The lawsuit argued that the new rules incorrectly preempt states’ powers to regulate how the interest generated by mortgage escrow accounts is handled.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Madness, and all thanks to the powers of drunken room service.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of powers
Verb
  • Inside, soy proteins repair and strengthen, copper peptides stimulate keratin production–aka the protein that fortifies and minimizes frizz–and pro-B vitamins amplify fullness.
    — Ellie Davis, Vogue, 25 June 2026
  • The Olive and June product can also be applied daily to bare nails as an intensive strengthening treatment that not only fortifies your claws, but also repairs ridges, discoloration, and pesky peeling along the way.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 3 June 2026
Definition of fortifies
Noun
  • Bragg's office contends that the state charges, including murder and firearms offenses, involve different legal elements and criminal conduct than federal charges, which alleged Mangione traveled across state lines to stalk and kill Thompson.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Mangione had previously also faced a charge of murder through the use of a firearm, which carried a possible death penalty sentence, but that federal charge and an additional firearms charge was dropped in January.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of firearms
Noun
  • Amy Tucci, president of the Hospice Foundation of America, noted that some agencies provide extra therapy, aide support, and other services.
    — Kim Clark, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The settlement will be paid by Hyundai Mobis, Kia and local staffing and recruitment agencies that helped find and bring the immigrant workers to Georgia on temporary visas.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of agencies

Phrases Containing arms

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armpits
arms
arm-twist
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Cite this Entry

“Arms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arms. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of arms for Spanish Speakers

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