Verb: neutralise 'n(y)oo-tru,lIz
Usage: Brit (N. Amer: neutralize)
Usage: Brit (N. Amer: neutralize)
- Make chemically neutral
"She neutralised the solution";
- neutralize
- Make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of
"Her optimism neutralises his gloom";
- neutralize, nullify, negate
- Make politically neutral and thus inoffensive
"The treaty neutralised the small republic";
- neutralize
- Oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions
"This will neutralise the foolish actions of my colleagues";
- counteract, countervail, neutralize, counterbalance
- Make incapable of military action
"The air strike neutralised the enemy's defences";
- neutralize
- Get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing
"the double agent was neutralised";
- neutralize, liquidate, waste [informal], knock off [informal], do in [informal], clip [informal], whack [informal], take out [informal]
Derived forms: neutralised, neutralising, neutralises
See also: bump off [informal], croak [informal], despatch [Brit], dispatch, murder, off [N. Amer, informal], polish off [informal], slay [literary]
Type of: alter, cancel, change, demilitarise [Brit], demilitarize, kill, modify, offset, set off, weaken