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

Police used pepper spray to disperse a crowd that gathered around a fight at Little Rock Central High School Friday, according to an email to parents from the school's principal. — Arkansas Online, 4 Sep. 2026

Not long afterward, two dozen Border Patrol agents descended on Roosevelt High School as class was getting out, prompting a confrontation in which the agents deployed pepper spray and arrested four people, including a teacher. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

In Danbury, protesters have had tense confrontations with ICE officers, who responded at least once with pepper spray, according to activists. — ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026

Investigators said Hadel was too close to Brown to safely use pepper spray or a Taser and found insufficient evidence that the officer's use of force was excessive. — Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pepper spray

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