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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Video from local outlets show federal officers deploying chemical agents such as pepper spray and pepper balls to disperse crowds outside the restaurants. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025 Bannister can allegedly be seen reaching for his pocket, which prompted the officers to deploy pepper spray. Logan Hall, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025 The complaint says that at the direction of the staff captain, the crew injected him with the sedative Haloperidol and used three cans of pepper spray. Greg Wehner , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 9 Dec. 2025 The complaint claims that the crew members, at the request of the staff captain, gave Virgil an injection of the sedative haloperidol and used multiple cans of pepper spray on him. Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pepper spray

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pepper spray was in 1979

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pepper spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pepper%20spray. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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