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
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.
The Buckeyes took exception, resulting in a brawl that was broken up by police officers wielding pepper spray. Austin Meek, New York Times, 7 July 2025 Another police officer used pepper spray to stop the fight, said Fernandez. Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 6 July 2025 The policy explicitly says pepper spray should not be deployed on non-violent crowds. Maryam Ahmed, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 He is accused of dousing a 25-year-old woman and her 11-month-old baby girl with pepper spray, hitting them in the face and arm, last Friday on a southbound M train as the train approached the Court Square-23rd St. station in Long Island City, police said. Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pepper spray

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pepper spray was in 1979

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pepper spray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pepper%20spray. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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