derringer

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of derringer One hundred and fifty-nine years ago, a 26-year-old white supremacist and Confederate sympathizer named John Wilkes Booth pointed a .44 caliber derringer pistol at the back of Abraham Lincoln’s head and squeezed the trigger. Brian Matthew Jordan, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024 This victim’s vision seems weird and fraudulent when Priscilla casually color-coordinates derringer pistols with designer dresses. Armond White, National Review, 3 Nov. 2023 As on the frontier, when predators never knew which woman might have a derringer in her petticoat, no one today knows when they will be recorded breaking the law. Sebastian Junger, National Review, 13 July 2023 In 1976, after wrecking his Rolls-Royce in a drunk-driving accident, he was arrested, intoxicated, with a loaded derringer on the grounds of Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate. Chris Morris, Variety, 28 Oct. 2022 Police found a silver derringer-style gun in his backpack at the time of his arrest. oregonlive, 21 June 2022 There's also a replica of the derringer pistol John Wilkes Booth used to assassinate Lincoln. Ariana Garcia, Chron, 13 May 2022 Wagrowski also testified that police found two guns -- a .22-caliber Kel-tec and a small derringer -- at the Crumbley home, aside from the one allegedly used in the shooting. Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 8 Feb. 2022 Police arrested a Sandusky man, 29, who was carrying a Ruger .45 caliber pistol with three magazines containing 22 rounds, along with a loaded High Standard derringer. Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 23 Jan. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derringer
Noun
  • The lawsuit stems from an incident on Oct. 21, 2021, when an old-fashioned revolver Alec Baldwin was handling went off.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
  • Police said that officers on the scene recovered a revolver from under Steven's body.
    Chris Spargo, People.com, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • In the car, officers found a safe, all of the children's passports as well as Jenny Boelter's, about $10,000 in cash, a revolver pistol in the glove box and another semi-automatic pistol in a cooler, the FBI said in the complaint.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 27 June 2025
  • He was then stopped again by police in his hometown of Murfreesboro, where police took another pistol off him.
    Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Caruthers tried to intervene when the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot him, police said.
    Kirsten Fiscus, The Tennessean, 3 July 2025
  • After he was shot, deputies found a Beretta PX4 Storm semi-automatic pellet gun, which is a replica of a .40 caliber handgun, near his body, according to authorities.
    Nathan Solis Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025
Noun
  • Its big selling feature is a revolver-like cylinder that spins and snicks along on precision bearings, just like the cylinder of a six-shooter.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 June 2025
  • Richard’s odds are lousier than Reacher’s were when Beck forced Reacher to play because this revolver is a five-shot model instead of a six-shooter.
    Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • So Lee would log on YouTube and search for sidearm pitchers.
    Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Either him or the sidearm guy from Alabama, Carson Ozmer.
    Mitch Light, New York Times, 15 June 2025
Noun
  • Growing up around firearms The source familiar with the investigation, however, said that authorities learned Roley grew up with a family that had firearms and felt comfortable handling them.
    Mike Levine, ABC News, 1 July 2025
  • During his initial court appearance on Sunday, Leto, who had a valid firearm owner’s identification card and concealed carry license, was ordered held pending trial.
    Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • And second, those engaging in gun violence do so after curfew, hence the need for curfews and stronger police presence at night.
    Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 8 July 2025
  • Asked if that was ever necessary on the 7th Heaven set, Diamond recalled an uncomfortable interaction with a producer over the presence of a gun in one of the episodes.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 7 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Derringer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derringer. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on derringer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!