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
Authorities imposed restrictions on protest routes and used pepper spray to disperse crowds after tensions escalated.
—
Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
McPhatter got out of his car and told the man to mind his business, and when the man later walked up to the police cruiser demanding his badge number, the cop opened the driver’s side door and sprayed pepper spray at the ground near him, according to prosecutors.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
—Reuters, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
Presbyterian pastor David Black was shot in the head with a pepper spray projectile while protesting outside an immigration detention center in October 2025.
—Laura E. Alexander, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pepper spray
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Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
McPhatter got out of his car and told the man to mind his business, and when the man later walked up to the police cruiser demanding his badge number, the cop opened the driver’s side door and sprayed pepper spray at the ground near him, according to prosecutors.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
—Reuters, NBC news, 10 Feb. 2026
Presbyterian pastor David Black was shot in the head with a pepper spray projectile while protesting outside an immigration detention center in October 2025.
—Laura E. Alexander, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2026
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 15 Feb. 2026.
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