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 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
  • That’s when, police believe, Flores allegedly went back inside, grabbed a revolver and fired toward the man, per the outlets.
    Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
  • While police have not mentioned a revolver being used in the shooting at Annunciation, the sight shook the store workers with years of experience who took pride in going the extra mile to make sure their guns didn’t fall into the wrong hands.
    Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • New Zealand has strict gun laws, which require an additional permit for possessing pistols specifically.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Police said the investigation uncovered a series of videos, alleged to have been taken in Milpitas by the suspect or an acquaintance, showing a person repeatedly firing an semiautomatic pistol into the air and at a wall.
    Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Officers used less lethal tools, but shot him with a firearm after Garcia produced a handgun.
    Elena Santa Cruz, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Also in the video, Renye said, is a member of the church congregation running in the same direction as the officers with a handgun but Renye said the member did not fire his weapon.
    Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 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
  • There were four Elvises—two in fading black and white, two in lurid colour—all aiming a six-gun straight at her.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 30 Aug. 2023
Noun
  • The deputy drew his 9mm sidearm and the detective fired at Ruth with his own AR-style rifle.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Herbert ran to his right on the Kansas City 23-yard line and slung a sidearm pass to Johnston for his second touchdown of the game.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Prosecutors alleged several special circumstances in the case, including premeditation, commission of multiple murders, murder with a firearm and murder to prevent testimony.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 Sep. 2025
  • That will allow the lab to add firearms and toolmark identification as well as print analysis to their services.
    Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • He was charged with a gun crime in connection with an anti-KKK riot in Durham, North Carolina.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • According to the complaint, Cullen matched the description of the person firing the gun, and he was taken into custody.
    Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Derringer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derringer. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

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