The phrase "takes arms" refers to someone arming themselves for battle or conflict. In contrast, some antonyms for "takes arms" might be "disarms," which refers to the act of disarming oneself or another person, or "negotiates," which suggests finding a peaceful solution to a conflict rather than relying on violence. Other antonyms might include "surrenders," "retreats," or "withdraws," which all indicate a cessation of hostilities rather than an escalation. Using antonyms for "takes arms" can broaden our vocabulary and help us express nuanced ideas about conflict resolution and peacekeeping.