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

The film was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (The Commuter) and centers around TSA agent Ethan Kopek (Egerton) who finds himself in a tight situation when the mysterious Traveler (Bateman) blackmails him into letting a piece of carry-on luggage with a dangerous nerve agent through security. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025

Over the course of its 40 year-long chemical weapons program, Syria mastered the production of deadly nerve agents and developed an arsenal of chemical munitions. —Gregory D. Koblentz, Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2024

Defector and former intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko died after drinking tea laced with radioactive polonium-210 in 2006, and former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter fell gravely ill but recovered following an attack with a Soviet-era nerve agent in 2018. —Emma Burrows, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2024

Ben runs with both and discovers that the onesie has been doused in a nerve agent and that the car was recently stolen by a patient from a doctor at Andy’s mental-health clinic. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024

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.