neu·tral·ize (n tr -l z , ny -)tr.v. neu·tral·ized, neu·tral·iz·ing, neu·tral·iz·es 1. To make neutral. 2. To counterbalance or counteract the effect of; render ineffective. 3. To declare neutral and therefore inviolable during a war. 4. Chemistry a. To make (a solution) neutral. b. To cause (an acid or base) to undergo neutralization. 5. Medicine To counteract the effect of (a drug or toxin). 6. Slang To remove as a threat, especially by killing.
neu tral·iz er n. |
neutralize or -ise Verb
[-izing, -ized] or -ising, -ised
1. to make electrically or chemically neutral
2. to make ineffective by counteracting
3. to make (a country) neutral by international agreement: the great powers neutralized Belgium in the 19th century
neutralization
-isation n
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Verb | 1. | neutralize - make politically neutral and thus inoffensive; "The treaty neutralized the small republic"alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" co-opt - neutralize or win over through assimilation into an established group; "We co-opted the independent minority tribes by pulling them into the Northern Alliance" |
| 2. | neutralize - make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of; "Her optimism neutralizes his gloom"; "This action will negate the effect of my efforts"weaken - lessen the strength of; "The fever weakened his body" |
| 3. | neutralize - oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions; "This will counteract the foolish actions of my colleagues"override - counteract the normal operation of (an automatic gear shift in a vehicle) |
| 4. | neutralize - get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing; "The mafia liquidated the informer"; "the double agent was neutralized"kill - cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly; "This man killed several people when he tried to rob a bank"; "The farmer killed a pig for the holidays" |
| 5. | neutralize - make incapable of military action |
| 6. | neutralize - make chemically neutral; "She neutralized the solution"alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue" |
neutralize or neutralise
1. As pertains to military operations, to render ineffective or unusable.
2. To render enemy personnel or material incapable of interfering with a particular operation.
3. To render safe mines, bombs, missiles, and boobytraps.
4. To make harmless anything contaminated with a chemical agent.
Translations