nerve agent

noun

: a toxic, usually odorless organophosphate (such as sarin, tabun, or VX) that is used as a chemical weapon in gaseous or liquid form, disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses, and may cause breathing difficulties, coughing, vomiting, muscle weakness or paralysis, convulsions, coma, and death : nerve gas

Examples of nerve agent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The big picture: Navalny began writing the book in 2020, shortly after his poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok. Ivana Saric, Axios, 15 Oct. 2024 Doctors concluded that Navalny had been poisoned with a deadly nerve agent called Novichok. Alexei Navalny, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024 Sergei and Yulia Skripal, a former Russian double agent and his daughter who survived being poisoned with nerve agent in 2018, will not testify at an inquiry into the related death of a British woman to protect them from another attack, a U.K. judge ruled last week. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2024 He was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in August 2020 and went to Germany to convalesce. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 31 May 2022 See all Example Sentences for nerve agent 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nerve agent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nerve agent was in 1953

Dictionary Entries Near nerve agent

Cite this Entry

“Nerve agent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerve%20agent. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

nerve agent

noun
: a toxic, usually odorless organophosphate (such as sarin, tabun, or VX) that disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses by inhibiting cholinesterase and especially acetylcholinesterase and is used as a chemical weapon in gaseous or liquid form : nerve gas

Note: Nerve agents may be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested in contaminated food or water. Symptoms of exposure include runny nose, increased salivation, sweating, breathing difficulties, coughing, vomiting, muscle weakness or paralysis, convulsions, coma, and respiratory arrest leading to death.

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