armed
armed
Pronunciation
armed: /ɑːrmd/
ɑːr
md
Word Form Variations
The term "armed" is primarily a past tense verb and an adjective.
Verb:
Base Form: arm
Third-person singular present: arms
Present participle: arming
Past tense/Past participle: armed
Adjective:
Comparative: more armed
Superlative: most armed
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb (Past Tense / Past Participle of "arm")
To provide with weapons or equipment for defense or offense.
Synonyms: equipped, outfitted, supplied, provided
Antonyms: disarmed, unequipped, stripped
To prepare for a particular task or situation, especially one involving potential conflict or challenge.
Synonyms: prepared, readied, fortified, braced
Antonyms: unprepared, unready, vulnerable, exposed
To activate or enable a mechanism, device, or system, often one that is dangerous or has the potential for action.
Synonyms: activated, enabled, primed, set
Antonyms: deactivated, disarmed, disabled, off
Adjective
Carrying or equipped with a weapon or weapons.
Synonyms: weaponized, equipped, militarized, gun-toting
Antonyms: unarmed, defenseless, vulnerable, weaponless
Possessing the necessary knowledge, resources, or preparation to deal with a situation or challenge.
Synonyms: prepared, informed, equipped, ready, fortified
Antonyms: unprepared, uninformed, vulnerable, unequipped
(Of a conflict or struggle) Involving the use of weapons.
Synonyms: military, combative, warlike, violent
Antonyms: peaceful, nonviolent, diplomatic, unarmed
Examples of Use
Newspapers: "Police found the suspect armed with a knife after a brief chase through the city streets." (Nairobi News, June 2025)
Online Publications: "Cybersecurity experts warn that businesses must be armed with robust defenses against increasingly sophisticated phishing attacks." (TechCrunch, May 2025)
Books: "The weary travelers, though armed with only a few simple tools, faced the wilderness with grim determination." (From a historical fiction novel about pioneers, specific title not available, but representative of common usage.)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): In the action film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the protagonist often appears armed with a variety of makeshift weapons as she navigates a post-apocalyptic world.
Entertainment Platforms (Streaming Service - Documentary): A documentary on Netflix about wildlife conservation might feature a segment explaining how park rangers are armed with tranquilizer darts to safely subdue animals for medical treatment.
General Public Discourse: "When discussing current events, it's crucial to be armed with accurate information to avoid spreading misinformation." (Heard in a public forum discussion, April 2025)
News Broadcast (Television): A reporter on KTN News might state, "Authorities confirmed that the individuals involved in the standoff were heavily armed." (KTN News, July 2025)
Podcast: "The latest episode of 'Crime Junkie' delves into a case where the perpetrators were surprisingly well-armed for a petty theft." (Crime Junkie podcast, March 2025)
Social Media Post: A tweet might read: "Always feel safer walking at night when I know I'm armed with my self-defense alarm." (@SafetyFirstAdvocate, June 2025)
Government Report: A report on national security might include a phrase like: "The nation must remain adequately armed to deter potential external threats." (Kenya Ministry of Defence Annual Report, 2024)
10 Famous Quotes Using Armed
"We are twice armed if we fight with faith." (Plato)
"Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man." (Ronald Reagan)
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." (James Madison)
"Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed." (Niccolo Machiavelli)
"Before all else, be armed." (Niccolo Machiavelli)
"None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army. To keep ours armed and disciplined is therefore at all times important." (Thomas Jefferson)
"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life." (Robert A. Heinlein)
"The great object is that every man be armed." (Patrick Henry)
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." (Often attributed to George Orwell, though sometimes quoted as "We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us." by Winston S. Churchill.)
"Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision." (Ayn Rand)
Etymology
The word "armed" has a fascinating history, deeply connected to the idea of weapons and preparation for conflict.
It comes to us from the Old French word "armer," which meant "to provide weapons to" or "to take up arms." This Old French word, in turn, came directly from the Latin word "armare," meaning "to furnish with arms."
The core of all these words is the Latin word "arma," which originally referred to "tools" or "implements," but specifically those used for war, like weapons and armor. So, at its very root, "armed" means being equipped with the "tools" of war.
The earliest known use of "armed" in English, in the sense of being "equipped for battle" or "furnished with weapons," dates back to around the 13th century (specifically, the early 1200s). So, from its very beginning in English, the word has been about having weapons for defense or offense.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Armed
Armed to the teeth: Heavily armed; having a lot of weapons.
Armed and dangerous: Carrying weapons and likely to use them; posing a threat.
Armed neutrality: A state of not taking sides in a conflict but being prepared for war.
To be armed against: To be prepared to resist or defend against something.
Armed forces: The military forces of a country.
Armed resistance: Opposition or rebellion carried out with weapons.
Armed conflict: A fight or war involving weapons.
To be armed with facts/information: To have knowledge or evidence ready to support an argument or deal with a situation.
Well-armed (with wit/charm): (Figurative) Possessing a strong ability or quality.
Loaded for bear: (Using a synonym of "armed" for similar effect) Fully prepared and equipped for a difficult or intense confrontation.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of armed from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
