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
Masked agents in unmarked vehicles grabbing neighbors off the streets, using tear gas and pepper spray, shooting innocent people exercising their First Amendment rights to protest.
—
Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
Pepper balls and pepper spray Pepper balls are a projectile fired from weapons that look like paintball guns, but the pellets marry the effects of a chemical irritant with the blunt force of a paintball.
—Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
In that case, Menendez barred agents from using tactics such as pepper spray and arrest against peaceful protesters in Minnesota.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Federal agents arrested thousands of immigrants, most of whom didn’t have a criminal record, and repeatedly deployed tear gas and pepper spray during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pepper spray
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Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 21 Jan. 2026
Pepper balls and pepper spray Pepper balls are a projectile fired from weapons that look like paintball guns, but the pellets marry the effects of a chemical irritant with the blunt force of a paintball.
—Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
In that case, Menendez barred agents from using tactics such as pepper spray and arrest against peaceful protesters in Minnesota.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Federal agents arrested thousands of immigrants, most of whom didn’t have a criminal record, and repeatedly deployed tear gas and pepper spray during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pepper spray
Cite this Entry
“Pepper spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pepper%20spray. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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