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

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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.
For example, a few years ago, another team wondered if AI could be used to generate novel molecules that would have the same properties as nerve agents. — Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025 This nerve agent was once released by the apocalyptic cult Aum Shinrikyo on the Tokyo subway in March 1995. — Ibrahim Al-Marashi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025 The allegation feeds into a long and deeply contested narrative around high-profile poison cases in Vladimir Putin’s Russia, from radioactive tea to nerve agents. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026 The doc is an account of the 2018 Novichok nerve agent attack that transformed a quiet English city into the epicenter of a geopolitical crisis. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nerve agent

Word History

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nerve agent was in 1953

Rhymes for nerve agent

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Browse Nearby Words

nerve
nerve agent
nerve cell
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Cite this Entry

“Nerve agent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nerve%20agent. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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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.

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