sarin

noun sa·rin \ ˈsär-ən , ˈser- ; zä-ˈrēn \

|Updated on: 19 May 2018

Definition of sarin

: an extremely toxic chemical weapon C₄H₁₀FO₂P that is used as a lethal nerve gas — called also GB

Recent Examples of sarin from the Web

Trump ordered an attack last April against the Shayrat air base after a warplane at the base dropped bombs on another town allegedly containing the nerve agent sarin.

— w.j. hennigan, Time, "The U.S., Britain and France Just Unleashed 105 Missiles on Syria. Now What?," 14 Apr. 2018
No casualties were reported as a result of the raid, which was a response to the regime’s suspected use of chlorine and sarin on civilians in the town of Douma, killing dozens of people.

— The Economist, "Politics this week," 19 Apr. 2018
Since last year’s strike, multiple chemical attacks have been reported in opposition areas, most of them involving chlorine rather than the nerve agent sarin, as was used in 2017, suggesting the government may have adjusted its tactics.

— carol morello, BostonGlobe.com, "Haley warns that US forces ‘locked and loaded’ if Syria stages another chemical attack," 14 Apr. 2018
Obama relented, instead opting for a deal pushed through by Russia saw the government surrender its stockpiles of chemical weapons — including sarin and VX — to the United Nations.

— w.j. hennigan, Time, "U.S., Allies Weighing a More Severe Response to Syria's Suspected Chemical Weapons Attack," 10 Apr. 2018
The images recalled two earlier chemical weapons attacks on civilians in Syria, both of which involved the nerve agent sarin.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Dozens reportedly killed in apparent chemical attack in Syria," 8 Apr. 2018
Fortunately, the sarin used was impure, otherwise the casualty list would have been much longer.

— simon cotton, Scientific American, "Nerve Agents: What Are They and How Do They Work?," 9 Mar. 2018
In August of 2013, the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad fired rockets filled with the nerve agent sarin at the Eastern Ghouta area, just outside Damascus.

— junot díaz, The New Yorker, "Trump’s Erratic Threats to Bashar al-Assad," 15 Apr. 2018
Trump ordered a missile strike last April after a sarin attack killed dozens of people in Idlib province.

— tracy wilkinson, latimes.com, "Trump declares 'Mission Accomplished!' with Syria airstrikes as Assad holds on to power," 14 Apr. 2018

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