chemical weapon

[ kem-i-kuhl wep-uhn ]

noun

1. any poisonous, asphyxiating, or corrosive chemical agent designed or intended to incapacitate, harm, or kill a targeted military or civilian group. : CW

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemical weapon¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

So the bombing of civilians in the Jaffna peninsula in 2009, the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the bombing of coaches of children in Yemen — these become a new normal.

From Washington Post

The post Wearable sensors may one day sniff out chemical weapons for soldiers appeared first on Popular Science.

From Popular-Science

It has only been used for investigations into chemical weapons in Russia due to the “extreme nature” of the weapons.

From Time

He devotes short sections to efforts by the Islamic State to develop chemical weapons.

From Washington Post

Using chemical weapons did not end Assad’s ability to negotiate.

From Washington Post

Such as those required during Crimea annexation, Syrian chemical weapon attacks and Libyan military intervention.

From The Daily Beast

Assad is suspected of using this type of chemical weapon, perhaps sarin itself, on the Syrian people.

From The Daily Beast

A third category of chemical weapon is comparably savage—the nerve-gas agents.

From The Daily Beast

For weeks, reports have circulated that the Syrian regime used some kind of chemical weapon in the Syrian city of Homs on Dec. 23.

From The Daily Beast