neutralize

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ˈnuːtrəˌlaɪz/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To make something ineffective or harmless by applying an opposite force or effect; to counteract.; To render a place or state neutral in a conflict or dispute.; To kill or incapacitate an enemy or threat, especially in a military or espionage context.; In chemistry, to make a solution neither acidic nor alkaline by combining an acid with a base.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: neutralizes Past: neutralized Past part.: neutralized Pres part.: neutralizing

Collocations

neutralize a threatneutralize the effectneutralize an opponentneutralize the acidneutralize a bomb

Derivatives

neutralizationneutralizerneutralneutralityneutrally

Synonyms

counteractnullifynegateoffsetdeactivatecancel out

Antonyms

activateintensifyenhance

Commonly confused

neutralise
EN: 'Neutralise' is simply the British English spelling variant of 'neutralize'; both are correct depending on the variety of English used.
neutral
EN: 'Neutral' is an adjective meaning impartial or having no charge; 'neutralize' is the verb meaning to make something neutral or ineffective.

Spelling tips

EN: British English uses 'neutralise' (with 's'), while American English uses 'neutralize' (with 'z'). The root is 'neutral' + the suffix '-ize/-ise'.

💬 Examples

  1. The antidote helped neutralize the effects of the poison.

  2. The treaty aimed to neutralize the border region between the two countries.

  3. The special forces team was sent to neutralize the terrorist cell.

  4. Adding sodium hydroxide will neutralize the hydrochloric acid solution.