NEUTRALIZE

neutralize, neutralise

(verb) make chemically neutral; “She neutralized the solution”

neutralize, neutralise, nullify, negate

(verb) make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of; “Her optimism neutralizes his gloom”; “This action will negate the effect of my efforts”

neutralize, neutralise

(verb) make incapable of military action

neutralize, neutralise, liquidate, waste, knock off, do in

(verb) get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing; “The mafia liquidated the informer”; “the double agent was neutralized”

neutralize

(verb) make politically neutral and thus inoffensive; “The treaty neutralized the small republic”

counteract, countervail, neutralize, counterbalance

(verb) oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions; “This will counteract the foolish actions of my colleagues”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

neutralize (third-person singular simple present neutralizes, present participle neutralizing, simple past and past participle neutralized)

(transitive) To make even, inactive or ineffective.

(transitive) To make (a territory, etc.) politically neutral.

(transitive, military, euphemism) To kill.

Synonyms

• counteract

• counterweigh

Source: Wiktionary


Neu"tral*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Neutralized; p. pr. & vb. n. Neutralizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. neutraliser.]

1. To render neutral; to reduce to a state of neutrality. So here I am neutralized again. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Chem.)

Definition: To render inert or imperceptible the peculiar affinities of, as a chemical substance; to destroy the effect of; as, to neutralize an acid with a base.

3. To destroy the peculiar or opposite dispositions of; to reduce to a state of indifference inefficience; to counteract; as, to neutralize parties in government; to neutralize efforts, opposition, etc. Counter citations that neutralize each other. E. Everett.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

1 July 2024

DRIVE

(verb) cause someone or something to move by driving; “She drove me to school every day”; “We drove the car to the garage”


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Coffee Trivia

According to WorldAtlas, Canada is the only non-European country to make its top ten list of coffee consumers. The United States at a distant 25 on the list.

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