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
The jail said the chemical agent (which was thought to be smoke bombs or tear gas) was pepper spray.
—
Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025
Today his agents used batons and pepper spray on street vendors and bystanders on Canal Street.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
His leg had been cut from the broken glass, Retes told ProPublica, and lingering pepper spray burned his hands.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The plaintiffs alleged in the lawsuit that police used excessive force and violated their constitutional rights by deploying tear gas, chemical irritants, projectiles, grenades and pepper spray.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pepper spray
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Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2025
Today his agents used batons and pepper spray on street vendors and bystanders on Canal Street.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
His leg had been cut from the broken glass, Retes told ProPublica, and lingering pepper spray burned his hands.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025
The plaintiffs alleged in the lawsuit that police used excessive force and violated their constitutional rights by deploying tear gas, chemical irritants, projectiles, grenades and pepper spray.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
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 29 Oct. 2025.
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