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
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Recent Examples of small arms
In some cases, small arms fire and high rate-of-fire machine guns have proved effective against low-flying drones.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Throughout their history, they have been proven vulnerable to small arms fire in urban combat.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
In the virtual panel discussion last week, union leaders described the Lake City facility as the largest producer of small arms ammunition for the armed forces.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
News reports said the helicopters faced small arms fire but made it out safely with the pilot.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
The suspension applies to at least a part of SIG Sauer, a major small arms maker based in Switzerland and Germany.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
During the past few years, the Houthis have become less reliant on Iran for weapons, smuggling in drone components from Chinese companies and small arms from the Horn of Africa.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
The year is 1940 and the Second World War is in full swing, coming to Birmingham with a bang when a bomb falls on a small arms factory, killing everyone including a previously unseen member of the Shelby family, Agnes (Ruby Ashbourne Serkis).
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
From the north and from the island’s southern highpoint, 550-foot Mount Suribachi, shells and small arms fire rained on the Marines, the Courant reported.
—Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Throughout their history, they have been proven vulnerable to small arms fire in urban combat.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
In the virtual panel discussion last week, union leaders described the Lake City facility as the largest producer of small arms ammunition for the armed forces.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
News reports said the helicopters faced small arms fire but made it out safely with the pilot.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
The suspension applies to at least a part of SIG Sauer, a major small arms maker based in Switzerland and Germany.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Mar. 2026
During the past few years, the Houthis have become less reliant on Iran for weapons, smuggling in drone components from Chinese companies and small arms from the Horn of Africa.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2026
The year is 1940 and the Second World War is in full swing, coming to Birmingham with a bang when a bomb falls on a small arms factory, killing everyone including a previously unseen member of the Shelby family, Agnes (Ruby Ashbourne Serkis).
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
From the north and from the island’s southern highpoint, 550-foot Mount Suribachi, shells and small arms fire rained on the Marines, the Courant reported.
—Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small arms
Noun
-
After Florida law changed last fall, Publix opted to allow customers to open carry, while other major grocery chains, including Walmart and Winn-Dixie, asked customers not to bring guns.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
7 May 2026
-
McDonnell has publicly defended the stops as an essential law enforcement tool in the department’s fight against guns, gangs and drugs.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Federal authorities charged more than 25 alleged members and associates of Tren de Aragua (TdA), seizing more than 80 firearms, roughly 18 kilograms of drugs and more than $100,000 in cash as part of a sweeping crackdown on the violent transnational gang.—
Eric Mack,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
Walker said the law is only part of the problem, pointing also to the widespread availability of firearms among young people.—
Ben Wheeler
Updated May 10,
Kansas City Star,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Small arms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20arms. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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