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

Example Sentences

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

Recent Examples on the Web

At that point, an officer used pepper spray on Wagle. —John R. Ellement, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2023

Officers also used a taser and pepper spray on Nichols. —Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2023

The officers shouted often contradictory orders before using pepper spray on Mr. Nichols, who ran off. —Rick Rojas, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2023

After the tussle, pepper spray, and more threats of tasing, Nichols got away. —Lee Cowan, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2023

If their goal was only to apprehend Nichols, the officers did not need to use a Taser, pepper spray, or baton. —David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 28 Jan. 2023

In all, officers hit Nichols with pepper spray, a Taser, a baton as well as punches and kicks. —Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2023

Police threaten to use their Tasers on Nichols, shout expletives at him, and pepper spray him. —Ellen Francis, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2023

Another attempt by Brasilia’s military police to use pepper spray on protesters failed. —Katie Polglase, CNN, 14 Jan. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above