pepper spray

noun

: a temporarily disabling aerosol that is composed partly of capsicum oleoresin and causes irritation and blinding of the eyes and inflammation of the nose, throat, and skin

Examples of pepper spray in a Sentence

The police used pepper spray to bring the suspect under control.

Recent Examples on the Web

Arulampalam said the identities of the three are not yet known but the driver and person using pepper spray are suspected to be federal employees. —Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 9 Jan. 2026

Agents were also seen using pepper spray or some kind of chemical irritant. —Wcco Staff, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

Protest met with pepper spray, tear gas Dozens of protesters gathered Thursday morning outside a Minneapolis federal building being used as a base for the immigration crackdown. —Russ Bynum, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026

Based on video and photos from the scene in Minneapolis following the shooting, law enforcement deployed crowd control measures, including tear gas and pepper spray on some protesters. —Luke Barr, ABC News, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pepper spray

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway