tear gas
noun
a gas that makes the eyes smart and water, thus producing a temporary blindness, used in modern warfare, to quell riots, etc.
tear gas
1 American
[teer]
/ tɪər /
noun
tear-gas
2
American
[teer-gas]
/ ˈtɪərˌgæs /
verb (used with object)
tear-gassed,
tear-gassing
tear gas
British
/ tɪə /
noun
Etymology
Origin of tear gas1
First recorded in 1915–20
Origin of tear-gas2
First recorded in 1945–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
When less-lethal weapons proved ineffective, the department deployed tear gas on two occasions, June 8 and 14, to disperse “violent groups” and restore order.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
On Wednesday, government minister Jitendra Singh said in parliament that no "bullets" were fired, external and only tear gas was used.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
"We don't want tear gas and running battles in the streets. We are too old for that," one of the parents told journalists in Nairobi.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
Whether the substance was tear gas — which, incidentally, is a powder, not a gas — or pepper spray is unclear.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 22, 2026
None of the soldiers have dust bombs or tear gas.
From "Legend" by Marie Lu
Family members say police officers suggested he may have been killed by a tear-gas canister rather than a bullet.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
“It’s a different thing to ask, ‘Will you show up to this protest, where police might come and tear-gas us?’ versus ‘We’re getting whistles. Do you think you could help us with some extra baggies?’
From Slate ● Jan. 31, 2026
In the confrontation that followed, one of the agents tossed a tear-gas canister, which an employee kicked under their vehicle, enveloping it with noxious fumes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 20, 2026
At the Capitol, he said a tear-gas canister exploded near him, causing him to don his respirator, and soon, “I became part of the problem. I became part of the mob.”
From Washington Post ● Mar. 21, 2023
The gun rack, set between two of the eight windows, held a Remington shotgun, a Colt AR-15 assault rifle, a tear-gas gun, and many rounds of ammunition.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
I have never dropped bombs or tear-gassed anyone.
From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2026
Lindsey said on video, “They tear-gassed this area so I’m sneezing,” according to court records.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2024
During the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Mr Lai would join the tear-gassed crowds and listen to protesters before returning to the newsroom to direct coverage.
From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2023
While most of the gatherings were peaceful, French police tear-gassed protesters Sunday as they attempted to march on the Iranian Embassy in Paris.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 30, 2022
Thackeray reminisced at length about being tear-gassed blind in the November 1969 antiwar protests in Washington Circle, covering them for her college paper.
From The Hacker Crackdown, law and disorder on the electronic frontier by Bruce Sterling
“I actually think we could be promoting COVID-19 by tear-gassing protesters,” said Balmes.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 8, 2020
She oversaw punitive operations along the southern border that included the tear-gassing of hundreds of desperate would-be refugees near the San Ysidro border crossing.
From Slate ● Apr. 9, 2019
State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, who represents Ferguson and live-tweeted her tear-gassing by police, is one of 10 Democrats outnumbered by 24 Republicans.
From Slate ● Aug. 15, 2014
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
