as in guns
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 small arms
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
In total, 43 people were killed and more than 300,000 displaced by a five-day conflict that started with small arms fire and quickly escalated into heavy artillery and rocket fire, then Thailand’s deployment hours later of an F-16 fighter jet for airstrikes.
—CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2025
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
In total, 43 people were killed and more than 300,000 displaced by a five-day conflict that started with small arms fire and quickly escalated into heavy artillery and rocket fire, then Thailand’s deployment hours later of an F-16 fighter jet for airstrikes.
—CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small arms
Noun
-
Restricting trans people from buying guns would either require an act of Congress, or require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which reports to the Justice Department, to broaden the definition of a disqualifying mental health concern to include being transgender.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Stone said the group understands there are uses for guns in hunting and self-defense, but assault rifles should not be in public spaces because they are intended to cause the most harm.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In that raid, police seized the couple’s cellphones and two firearms.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
In June 2023, he was arrested at Boston’s Logan Airport after police allegedly found two firearms in his carry-on bag.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Small arms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20arms. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share