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

Derived forms: neutralizing, neutralized, neutralizes

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

Encyclopedia: Neutralize