tear gas
1 of 2noun
: a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance that on dispersion in the atmosphere irritates mucous membranes resulting especially in blinding of the eyes with tears and that is used chiefly (as by the police and the military) to disperse large crowds of people
tear-gas
2 of 2verb
ˈtir-ˌgas 
variants or tear gas or less commonly teargas
tear-gassed or tear gassed also teargassed; tear-gassing or tear gassing also teargassing; tear-gases or tear gasses also teargasses
transitive verb
: to use tear gas on
The troops then tear-gassed the crowd of several hundred, mostly teenagers and young men, which scattered in great confusion, but re-formed later.
Roger Daniels
Roger Daniels
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Khalid Razak, NBC News, 30 July 2022 Saturday’s protest by female activists at the presidential palace in Kabul over the Taliban’s policies on women was swiftly quashed by the Taliban, using tear gas and pepper spray. Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2021 On Monday, stun grenades echoed across a holy hilltop compound, and hundreds of Palestinians were hurt in clashes between stone-throwing protesters and police firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Joseph Krauss, USA TODAY, 10 May 2021 Seattle's demonstrations over the summer included protesters throwing large rocks, bottles, fireworks and other explosives at officers, while police tried to disperse crowds with tear gas and pepper balls. Madeline Holcombe And Chris Boyette, CNN, 3 Apr. 2021 Fischer's office took heat last year for, among other things, the use of tear gas and pepper bullets on protesters out on the streets. Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, 2 Apr. 2021 Wood eventually was forced from his truck by tear gas and pepper spray, hit with rubber bullets and pepper balls, tasered, and then fatally shot. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2020 During two protests, clouds of tear gas blanketing the courthouse square and Big Spring Park. Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2022 The department later apologized and said the use of tear gas was unwarranted. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 25 July 2022 Amindeh Blaise Atabong, Quartz Africa, 28 Sep. 2020 See More
Noun
After using ropes to pull down towering concrete walls, the protesters were met by anti-riot units who deployed hot water, tear gas and pepper gas against them. Khalid Razak, NBC News, 30 July 2022 Saturday’s protest by female activists at the presidential palace in Kabul over the Taliban’s policies on women was swiftly quashed by the Taliban, using tear gas and pepper spray. Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2021 On Monday, stun grenades echoed across a holy hilltop compound, and hundreds of Palestinians were hurt in clashes between stone-throwing protesters and police firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Joseph Krauss, USA TODAY, 10 May 2021 Seattle's demonstrations over the summer included protesters throwing large rocks, bottles, fireworks and other explosives at officers, while police tried to disperse crowds with tear gas and pepper balls. Madeline Holcombe And Chris Boyette, CNN, 3 Apr. 2021 Fischer's office took heat last year for, among other things, the use of tear gas and pepper bullets on protesters out on the streets. Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, 2 Apr. 2021 Wood eventually was forced from his truck by tear gas and pepper spray, hit with rubber bullets and pepper balls, tasered, and then fatally shot. Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Oct. 2020 During two protests, clouds of tear gas blanketing the courthouse square and Big Spring Park. Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, 26 Aug. 2022 The department later apologized and said the use of tear gas was unwarranted. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 25 July 2022 Verb
But the popular uprising was met with force as security forces used water cannons and teargas to break up demonstrations. Amindeh Blaise Atabong, Quartz Africa, 28 Sep. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1916, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1918, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
tear gas
noun
: a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance that on dispersion in the atmosphere irritates mucous membranes resulting especially in blinding of the eyes with tears