as in firearm
a portable weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder
the soldiers keep their small arms securely in their holsters when not on patrol
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Recent Examples of small arm
Batons, sticks, pipes, and small arms are among their favorite weapons.
—
Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
From small arms to nuclear platforms, China has unveiled a new generation of weapons across every domain of warfare on Wednesday at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
Iraq had plenty of small arms and ammunition, which could kill Americans but would often plink harmlessly off their armored vehicles.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
According to a May 2025 report from the German government, this aid includes equipment and weapons such as air defense systems, combat vehicles, artillery systems, armored transport vehicles, small arms, and ammunition, as well as other types of support, including medical supplies and clothing.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small arm
Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
From small arms to nuclear platforms, China has unveiled a new generation of weapons across every domain of warfare on Wednesday at a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of its victory in World War II.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
Iraq had plenty of small arms and ammunition, which could kill Americans but would often plink harmlessly off their armored vehicles.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
According to a May 2025 report from the German government, this aid includes equipment and weapons such as air defense systems, combat vehicles, artillery systems, armored transport vehicles, small arms, and ammunition, as well as other types of support, including medical supplies and clothing.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small arm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small arm
Noun
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That would include gun-violence restraining orders and domestic violence protective orders, which are among several kinds of orders that compel a restrained person to surrender firearms.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
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Robinson was also charged with firearm counts and multiple obstruction-of-justice charges.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The statistics don’t indicate what kind of criminal charge each agency has filed with the DOJ – meaning that referrals from arrests made by ATF agents working immigration raids or city patrols, rather than gun cases, could be included in the data, TRAC said.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
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At a news conference, police showed a video in which two people can be seen leaving a restaurant on Fountain Square Oct 13 and firing a gun at a restaurant, injuring two people.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Small arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20arm. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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