pepper spray

noun

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: pepper spray in a Sentence

Definition of pepper spray

: 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

See pepper spray defined for English-language learners

Examples of pepper spray in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of pepper spray from the Web

Deputies say the sister of church shooter Dylann Roof has been arrested for bringing drugs, pepper spray and a knife to her South Carolina school.

— william cummings, USA TODAY, "Charleston Church shooter's sister has drug charge dropped, still faces weapon charge," 24 Apr. 2018
Alaska guide Bob Lippert on the trail to Anan Wildlife Observatory, armed with rifle and pepper spray.

— david g. molyneaux, miamiherald, "You want Alaska up close and wild? Watch out for hungry bears and calving glaciers | Miami Herald," 12 May 2018
Some people advocate using moth balls or pepper spray under the hood, but fumes from these products are unhealthy for humans, Noble noted in her 2016 news release.

— christina hall, ajc, "Rats can't resist wiring in newer cars: Here's why," 8 May 2018
Some people advocate using moth balls or pepper spray under the hood, but fumes from these products are unhealthy for humans, Noble noted in her 2016 news release.

— christina hall, Detroit Free Press, "Rats can't resist wiring in newer cars: Here's why," 7 May 2018
Some young men broke storefront windows; police responded, sometimes indiscriminately, with clubs and pepper spray.

— rick hampson, USA TODAY, "The Witness: Clara Ester, the Lorraine Motel and the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.," 20 Mar. 2018
The two-page criminal complaint said Lowe punched one officer in the face, breaking a bone, after the officer had used pepper spray.

— ashley luthern, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee man at center of viral violent arrest charged with battery, moved to jail," 7 May 2018
Christopher Love and Angela Petropoulos allege that the five officers named in the complaint used pepper spray at close range and choked Love when arresting him after stopping him for expired tags in 2015.

— jerome campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "Cambridge couple sues city and police for 2015 arrest, claiming excessive force, racial bias," 4 May 2018
Instead, the board's report said Bell was pepper sprayed and suffered a concussion and fractured ribs at the hands of prison staff.

— eliott c. mclaughlin, CNN, "Police, widow blast New York decision to parole 3-time cop killer," 30 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pepper spray.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of pepper spray

1979

in the meaning defined above

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PEPPER SPRAY Defined for English Language Learners

pepper spray

noun

Definition of pepper spray for English Language Learners

: a substance made from a chemical found in peppers that causes temporary blindness and pain to the nose, throat, and skin when it is sprayed on someone