nerve agent

noun

: a toxic, usually odorless organophosphate (such as sarin, tabun, or VX) that is used as a chemical weapon in gaseous or liquid form, disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses, and may cause breathing difficulties, coughing, vomiting, muscle weakness or paralysis, convulsions, coma, and death : nerve gas

Examples of nerve agent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

He was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in August 2020 and went to Germany to convalesce. —Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 31 May 2022

He and his daughter in 2018 were nearly killed in Britain by nerve agent poisoning blamed on Russian agents. —Eric Tucker, arkansasonline.com, 2 Aug. 2024

And that’s a good instinct, because — with Karima and the Super Secret Science League’s help — Ben finds out that the cloth has been doused in a nerve agent! —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 1 Aug. 2024

In recent years, attempted assassinations of Putin’s opponents at home and abroad with nerve agents prompted only the imposition of small-scale sanctions and the expulsion of some Russian diplomats from Western countries. —Ivo Daalder, Foreign Affairs, 7 Apr. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

nerve agent

noun

: a toxic, usually odorless organophosphate (such as sarin, tabun, or VX) that disrupts the transmission of nerve impulses by inhibiting cholinesterase and especially acetylcholinesterase and is used as a chemical weapon in gaseous or liquid form : nerve gas

Note: Nerve agents may be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested in contaminated food or water. Symptoms of exposure include runny nose, increased salivation, sweating, breathing difficulties, coughing, vomiting, muscle weakness or paralysis, convulsions, coma, and respiratory arrest leading to death.