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
Rather than treating walking and manipulation as separate tasks, the approach brings them together so the robot can move its body while applying force through its arms. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026 According to the suit, the deputies then each grabbed one of his arms and pulled him out of the vehicle. — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The pup settled comfortably into his arms and even fell asleep as the couple continued their host chat. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2026 The group, which has local arms around the country, regularly organizes protests, sit-ins and climate strikes. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026 Stamos and Christian Love helped Mike to his feet, and then, on either side of him, held his arms aloft in the air in a triumphant pose, until the curtains closed in front of them. — Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 The black-and-white photograph shows Hepworth seated with her arms and legs crossed, a tea set in the foreground and a cat curled up on a couch. — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 RoboTena’s useless arms were being dismantled on the warehouse floor. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Footage broadcast on Saudi state media after the Saturday attack showed some of the injured in the hospital with severe burns and bandaged arms. — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arms
  1. guns
  2. departments
  3. bays
  4. capes
  5. powers
  6. fortifies
  7. firearms
  8. agencies
Noun
  • Assassin is a real-life game played around the world, with NERF guns or water pistols most commonly used as the assassination method.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The United States is currently managing to get significant amounts of crude oil (if not refined product) through the strait, but only by providing costly military protection to tankers that slip past Iran’s guns with their transponders off.
    — Philip H. Gordon, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of guns
Noun
  • Only 27% of Americans view both the State and Justice departments positively, and while Republicans’ approval of those departments has held relatively steady, it’s also below 50%.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Getting different departments to work together is another challenge.
    — Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of departments
Noun
  • The complex will feature four payload bays, two encapsulation bays, and a dedicated area for processing multiple payloads together.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Among the hotel’s newest features is The Dunbar Social by Topgolf Swing Suite, which pairs casual dining and drinks with five golf and game simulator bays.
    — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of bays
Noun
  • Then came the silver capes and dark shades that are part of the walk.
    — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Bengals came close on so many occasions, but when clutch performances were needed, that’s when Burrow and Chase put on their capes and played superhero.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of capes
Noun
  • Billy, now inhabiting the body of and living as William, was then able to use his powers to help Tommy’s soul find a new body to inhabit.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Even some of the most traditional powers that the sport has to offer have busted out some new uniform combinations to get their fans excited (think Georgia's all-white threads and matching white helmet).
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of powers
Verb
  • The additional financing fortifies its position as one of two investors alongside the Ellison family controlling Paramount’s voting stock.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The addition of cotton and raw material-producing countries like Egypt and Ethiopia further fortifies a strong sourcing platform that already includes manufacturing giants India and China.
    — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of fortifies
Noun
  • Several firearms and other evidence were found by police inside the home.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Minors can also temporarily possess firearms for lawful reasons, such as hunting or target practice.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of firearms
Noun
  • Both agencies have seen a notable decline in Republican support.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • While international observers initially blamed Moscow for the blasts, investigators later found suggestions that Ukrainian state security agencies may have been involved — even though Ukraine counts Germany as one of its closest allies.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of agencies

Phrases Containing arms

Browse Nearby Words

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 20 Oct. 2026.

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