chemical weapon

[ kem-i-kuhl wep-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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

First recorded in 1910–15

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

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

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

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

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