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

Dawn Sturgess, who died after being exposed to a nerve agent. —Reuters, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025

The new sanctions specifically target Russia's GRU military intelligence agency, which Britain has long accused of carrying out the attack targeting a former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, with the nerve agent Novichok. —Haley Ott, CBS News, 4 Dec. 2025

This nerve agent was once released by the apocalyptic cult Aum Shinrikyo on the Tokyo subway in March 1995. —Ibrahim Al-Marashi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025

For example, a few years ago, another team wondered if AI could be used to generate novel molecules that would have the same properties as nerve agents. —Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nerve agent

• newsagent
• reagent
• subagent

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.