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
There will be moments, in any month’s pause, where small arms clashes, or drone strikes, prove impossible to attribute to either side as the aggressor: where AI-manipulation, or faked accounts, or entirely fictitious incidents, fill the information space.
—
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Based on the West’s response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its relatively small arms provisions during the run-up to the war in 2022, Moscow might reasonably have assumed that the United States and Europe would not provide major support for Ukraine, or at least not in time.
—Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2023
Rund then became engaged to Doug Rund, the brother of her late husband Greg Rund, who died in Fallujah from small arms fire, according to media reports.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025
Also, the cuff size is a bit large and may not be ideal for small arms.
—Loren Brutsch, Health, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small arm
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Based on the West’s response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its relatively small arms provisions during the run-up to the war in 2022, Moscow might reasonably have assumed that the United States and Europe would not provide major support for Ukraine, or at least not in time.
—Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2023
Rund then became engaged to Doug Rund, the brother of her late husband Greg Rund, who died in Fallujah from small arms fire, according to media reports.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025
Also, the cuff size is a bit large and may not be ideal for small arms.
—Loren Brutsch, Health, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small arm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small arm
Noun
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This is recommended by the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as firearm trade associations and firearm businesses.—
Anne Ritter,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
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Without the protections, Harry and Meghan would not have firearm protection when visiting his home country.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Hiaasen’s humor remains sharp and outlandish, but some of the darker currents of contemporary American life—the guns, the anger, the conspiracy theories—have become painfully personal.—
Amy Weiss-Meyer,
The Atlantic,
8 May 2025
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Surveillance cameras showed Floren threatening that caller inside the bar before going outside and hiding his gun between a trash can and a pillar, according to Merriweather’s letter.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Small arm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small%20arm. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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