tear gas
/ˈtɪəɡas
/noun [mass noun]
Gas that causes severe irritation to the eyes, chiefly used in riot control to force crowds to disperse: police used water cannon and tear gas against demonstrators [as modifier]: a tear-gas canister...
- The security forces countered with tear gas and water cannons to try to disperse the crowd.
- Police wielded batons and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse crowds and take control of the streets.
- At least five people suffered minor injuries in the unrest as riot police fired tear gas into the crowd.
verb (tear-gas) [with object]
Attack with tear gas: he and his crew were tear-gassed...
- Military soldiers arrived and tear-gassed the protesting farmers.
- Like us, they were tear-gassed; today we know that tear gas is carcinogenic and teratrogenic.
- They tear-gassed the offices and harassed reporters.