Armed — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈärmd/

Meaning & Definition of Armed

Armed (adjective)

  1. furnished with weapons; also, using or involving a weapon
  2. furnished with something that provides security, strength, or efficacy
  3. marked by the maintenance of armed forces in readiness
  4. having an arm or arms especially of a specified kind or number —usually used in combination

Armed (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in fortified, braced

    similar: braced, fortified, steeled, conditioned, primed, ripe, qualified, trained, fit, go, prepared, ready, set
    opposite: flat-footed, half-baked, half-cocked, underprepared, unprepared, unready, unqualified, untrained

Armed (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in prepared, fortified

    similar: fortified, prepared, allocated, allotted, assigned, reequipped, refitted, refurnished, reoutfitted, apportioned, dealt (out), dispensed, distributed, doled out, handed out, meted (out), parceled (out), portioned, prorated, bestowed, contributed, donated, gave, presented, stocked, stored, accoutred, equipped, fitted (out), furnished, girded, kitted (up or out) (chiefly British), outfitted, provisioned, rigged, supplied
    opposite: deprived, dispossessed, divested, stripped

Related Entry: Armed forces (plural noun)

Armed forces is a different word from Armed. The synonyms below are for armed forces, not for armed.

  1. the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation

    "our nation's armed forces are stationed throughout the world"

    similar: colors, military, service, troops
    related: GIs, men-at-arms, rank and file, servicemen, servicewomen, soldiers, soldiery, force, militia, reserves, armor, defense, gendarmerie
    near: civilians, noncombatants

Related Entry: Stiff-armed (verb)

Stiff-armed is a different word from Armed. The synonyms below are for stiff-armed, not for armed.

  1. to deliberately ignore or treat rudely

    "in his sad and lonely old age, he stiff-armed even once-beloved friends"

    similar: cold-shouldered, cut, high-hatted, slighted, snubbed, stiffed
    related: isolated, ostracized, brushed (aside or off), disdained, rebuffed, rejected, repelled, repulsed, scorned, spurned, disregarded, forgot, neglected, overlooked, overpassed, passed over, shrugged off

Related Entry: Strong-armed (verb)

Strong-armed is a different word from Armed. The synonyms below are for strong-armed, not for armed.

  1. to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats

    "developers trying to strong-arm homeowners into selling their houses at below-market prices"

    similar: blackjacked, bogarted, browbeat, bulldozed, bullied, bullyragged, cowed, hectored, intimidated, picked on
    related: blustered, trash-talked, affrighted, alarmed, frightened, horrified, scared, shocked, spooked, startled, terrified, menaced, terrorized, threatened, badgered, harassed, hounded, bludgeoned, coerced, compelled, constrained, dragooned, forced, made, obliged, pressed, pressured, pushed around, demoralized, psyched (out), unmanned, unnerved, discomposed, disconcerted, disquieted, distressed, disturbed, perturbed, upset
    near: cheered, comforted, consoled, reassured, solaced, soothed, emboldened, encouraged, heartened, steeled, convinced, persuaded

Related Entry: Stiff-arm (verb)

Stiff-arm is a different word from Armed. The synonyms below are for stiff-arm, not for armed.

  1. to deliberately ignore or treat rudely

    "in his sad and lonely old age, he stiff-armed even once-beloved friends"

    similar: cold-shoulder, cut, high-hat, slight, snub, stiff
    related: isolate, ostracize, brush (aside or off), disdain, rebuff, reject, repel, repulse, scorn, spurn, disregard, forget, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, shrug off

Related Entry: Strong-arm (verb)

Strong-arm is a different word from Armed. The synonyms below are for strong-arm, not for armed.

  1. to make timid or fearful by or as if by threats

    "developers trying to strong-arm homeowners into selling their houses at below-market prices"

    similar: blackjack, bogart, browbeat, bulldoze, bully, bullyrag, cow, hector, intimidate, pick on
    related: bluster, trash-talk, affright, alarm, frighten, horrify, scare, shock, spook, startle, terrify, menace, terrorize, threaten, badger, harass, hound, bludgeon, coerce, compel, constrain, dragoon, force, make, oblige, press, pressure, push around, demoralize, psych (out), unman, unnerve, discompose, disconcert, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, upset
    near: cheer, comfort, console, reassure, solace, soothe, embolden, encourage, hearten, steel, convince, persuade

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Armed

The most common words with a similar meaning to Armed:

Chiefly British: kitted (up or out)
braced, fortified, steeled, conditioned, primed, ripe, qualified, trained, fit, go, prepared, ready, set, allocated, allotted, assigned, reequipped, refitted, refurnished, reoutfitted, apportioned, dealt (out), dispensed, distributed, doled out, handed out, meted (out), parceled (out), portioned, prorated, bestowed, contributed, donated, gave, presented, stocked, stored, accoutred, equipped, fitted (out)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Armed

Words with the opposite meaning of Armed:

flat-footed, half-baked, half-cocked, underprepared, unprepared, unready, unqualified, untrained, deprived, dispossessed, divested, stripped

Origin & Etymology of Armed

Middle English, from past participle of armen "to arm:2"

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Armed

Words & Phrases Containing Armed

armed forces, armed and dangerous, armed robbery, armed to the teeth, one-armed bandit, heavily armed

Frequently Asked Questions about Armed

What does "Armed" mean?

"Armed" means furnished with weapons; also, using or involving a weapon. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: furnished with weapons; also, using or involving a weapon. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Armed"?

Other words for "Armed" include braced, fortified, steeled, conditioned, primed, ripe, qualified and trained. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Armed" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Armed"?

There are 47 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Armed". Common alternatives include braced, fortified, steeled, conditioned, primed, ripe, qualified, trained, fit and go.

What is the opposite of "Armed"?

Antonyms of "Armed" include flat-footed, half-baked, half-cocked, underprepared, unprepared, unready, unqualified and untrained.

Is "Armed" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Armed" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Armed" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Armed" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Armed"?

"Armed" is pronounced /ˈärmd/.

What is the origin of the word "Armed"?

"Armed" comes from Middle English, from past participle of armen "to arm:2". First known use: 14th century.