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Verb: neutralize  'n(y)oo-tru,lIz
  1. Make politically neutral and thus inoffensive
    "The treaty neutralized the small republic";
    - neutralise [Brit]
     
  2. Make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of
    "Her optimism neutralizes his gloom";
    - neutralise [Brit], nullify, negate
     
  3. Oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions
    "This will neutralize the foolish actions of my colleagues";
    - counteract, countervail, counterbalance, neutralise [Brit]
     
  4. Get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing
    "the double agent was neutralized";
    - neutralise [Brit], liquidate, waste, knock off [informal], do in
     
  5. Make incapable of military action
    - neutralise [Brit]
     
  6. Make chemically neutral
    "She neutralized the solution";
    - neutralise [Brit]

Derived forms: neutralizing, neutralized, neutralizes

Type of: alter, cancel, change, demilitarise [Brit], demilitarize, kill, modify, offset, set off, weaken

Encyclopedia: Neutralize