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
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He will be booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail and faces two counts of homicide, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, officials said.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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The operation led by the District of Massachusetts targeting machine gun conversion device vendors has led to the seizure of about 360 internet domains and more than 3,000 devices, 282 firearms, 124 silencers, more than 12,000 rounds ammunition and about 125 investigative referrals.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The measures include a national gun buyback scheme and new checks on firearm license applications, per the BBC.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
22 Jan. 2026
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Investigators determined the gun was consistent with having fired the three 9mm shell casings recovered outside the drive-thru window that killed Gray.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Small arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20arm. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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