nerve gas

noun

: an organophosphate chemical weapon that may be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested and interferes with normal nerve transmission : nerve agent

Examples of nerve gas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Last May, Haley published a paper in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives that found that veterans who recalled hearing chemical nerve gas alarms during their deployment were more likely to develop Gulf War illness. Adithi Ramakrishnan, Dallas News, 3 May 2023 Sean Connery essentially plays a James Bond who's been rotting in prison for decades, Nicolas Cage is a jittery FBI chemist and the twosome break into Alcatraz to stop a bunch of rogue military dudes from shooting rockets filled with deadly nerve gas at San Francisco. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2022 On the morning of March 20, 1995, a deadly nerve gas attack in the Tokyo subway sent the nation and its people into chaos. Vulture, 4 Jan. 2023 Rockets filled with nerve gas are aimed at San Francisco from the offshore island, a threat led by vengeful Brigadier General Francis Hummel (Ed Harris) and his clan of U.S. Force Recon Marines. Michael Lee Simpson, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2022 Battelle researchers tested his fungal strains against neurotoxins and found one potent variety of psilocybin mushroom highly effective at breaking down VX nerve gas. Kenneth Miller, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2013 In addition, many veterans diagnosed with GWS were exposed to chemicals, such as pesticides and nerve gas, that are known to damage mitochondria. Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2014 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nerve gas.' 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

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nerve gas was in 1940

Dictionary Entries Near nerve gas

Cite this Entry

“Nerve gas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerve%20gas. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

nerve gas

noun
: a war gas damaging especially to the nervous and respiratory systems

Medical Definition

nerve gas

noun
: an organophosphate chemical weapon that may be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested and interferes with normal nerve transmission : nerve agent

More from Merriam-Webster on nerve gas

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