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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of small arm
Alkhatib warned that Hamas may try to retain small arms to exert control over pockets of Gaza and seek to influence any technocratic governing structure meant to reconstruct the enclave and pave the way for self-governance.
—
Laura Kelly, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
Hanging from the fence was a backpack and a reusable shopping bag — each containing a plate capable of stopping small arms fire, according to prosecutors.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Two months later, the group launched more than two dozen attacks across northeastern Syria, relying on a combination of guerrilla tactics, including small arms fire, ambushes, assassinations, and improvised explosive devices targeting military checkpoints and government vehicles.
—Caroline Rose, Foreign Affairs, 18 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
See All Example Sentences for small arm
Laura Kelly, The Hill, 6 Oct. 2025
Hanging from the fence was a backpack and a reusable shopping bag — each containing a plate capable of stopping small arms fire, according to prosecutors.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Two months later, the group launched more than two dozen attacks across northeastern Syria, relying on a combination of guerrilla tactics, including small arms fire, ambushes, assassinations, and improvised explosive devices targeting military checkpoints and government vehicles.
—Caroline Rose, Foreign Affairs, 18 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
See All Example Sentences for small arm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small arm
Noun
-
Jackson was charged with a felony for simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm and felony drug possession.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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Federal agents in tactical gear, carrying firearms, moved in on the park, walking in a straight line, side by side, some on horseback, as news helicopters hovered above and nearby demonstrators jeered at them.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Law enforcement seized one gun during the arrests, and no search warrants were executed.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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Investigators didn't find the parents' DNA on the gun after getting a court order to collect DNA samples from them, the sheriff's office said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Small arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20arm. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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