What does "neutralize" mean?
To make (something) even, inactive or ineffective.
Neutralize
/ˈnjuːtɹəlaɪz/ verb
verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To make (something) even, inactive or ineffective.
- Grammar: neutralize is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: counteract, abrogate, absorb the shock, alkalinize.
- Useful contrasts: biased, coloured, preconceived.
- Usage evidence: In two years the world may have an automated system that could instantly discover and neutralize hackers’ attacks against government, corporate or private computers.
How to use "neutralize"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "neutralize" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "neutralize" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "neutralize" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "neutralize" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "neutralize" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "counteract" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "neutralize", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To make (something) even, inactive or ineffective. transitive
"The antidote neutralised the toxin."
- 2 make chemically neutral wordnet
- 3 To make (a territory, etc.) politically neutral. transitive
"All the powers involved are committed not only to stay out of a given territory, but also to reenter it if any one of them violates the independence of the neutralized country."
- 4 make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of wordnet
- 5 To make (an acidic or alkaline substance) chemically neutral. transitive
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 make incapable of military action wordnet
- 7 To kill. euphemistic, transitive
"At the beginning of the opening game, Shepard becomes the first human Spectre, an elite operative given broad authority to neutralize threats to galactic order in the galaxy."
- 8 get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing wordnet
- 9 make politically neutral and thus inoffensive wordnet
- 10 oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"In two years the world may have an automated system that could instantly discover and neutralize hackers’ attacks against government, corporate or private computers."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "neutralize"?
Common synonyms include: counteract, abrogate, absorb the shock, alkalinize, annul, antido.
How do you use "neutralize" in a sentence?
In two years the world may have an automated system that could instantly discover and neutralize hackers’ attacks against government, corporate or private computers.
How do you pronounce "neutralize"?
Pronounced /ˈnjuːtɹəlaɪz/.
Etymology
From French neutraliser (first attested in 1642). By surface analysis, neutral + -ize.