small-bore
adjective
1
a
of a firearm
: having a small or relatively small bore
especially
: having a caliber of .22 inches
a small-bore rifle
b
: of, relating to, or involving the use of small-bore firearms
small-bore ammunition
a small-bore shooting competition
2
: small in influence, importance, or scope
small-bore issues
We can—and should—expand the safety net and put aside money for housing for the poor, but we also need to stop thinking about small-bore solutions.—Hank Kalet
… an anecdote painting him as a small-bore expense-account swindler.—Russell Baker
Liberty is a huge breeze of a word, and in the confines of our small-bore politics, it sounds almost archaic.—Jack Hitt
Cite this Entry
“Small-bore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/small-bore. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.
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