NEUTRALIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does neutralize mean? 

• NEUTRALIZE (verb)
  The verb NEUTRALIZE has 6 senses:

1. make politically neutral and thus inoffensive

2. make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of

3. oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions

4. get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing

5. make incapable of military action

6. make chemically neutral

  Familiarity information: NEUTRALIZE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NEUTRALIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they neutralize    ... he / she / it neutralizes   
Past simple: neutralized   
Past participle: neutralized   
-ing form: neutralizing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make politically neutral and thus inoffensive

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

The treaty neutralized the small republic

Hypernyms (to "neutralize" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "neutralize"):

co-opt (neutralize or win over through assimilation into an established group)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

neutralization (action intended to keep a country politically neutral or exclude it from a possible war)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

negate; neutralise; neutralize; nullify

Context example:

This action will negate the effect of my efforts

Hypernyms (to "neutralize" is one way to...):

weaken (lessen the strength of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

neutralization (action intended to nullify the effects of some previous action)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

counteract; counterbalance; countervail; neutralize

Context example:

This will counteract the foolish actions of my colleagues

Hypernyms (to "neutralize" is one way to...):

cancel; offset; set off (make up for)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "neutralize"):

override (counteract the normal operation of (an automatic gear shift in a vehicle))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

neutralization (action intended to nullify the effects of some previous action)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

the double agent was neutralized

Hypernyms (to "neutralize" is one way to...):

kill (cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make incapable of military action

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

neutralise; neutralize

Hypernyms (to "neutralize" is one way to...):

demilitarise; demilitarize (do away with the military organization and potential of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

neutralization (action intended to keep a country politically neutral or exclude it from a possible war)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Make chemically neutral

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

neutralise; neutralize

Context example:

She neutralized the solution

Hypernyms (to "neutralize" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

neutralization (a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base interact with the formation of a salt; with strong acids and bases the essential reaction is the combination of hydrogen ions with hydroxyl ions to form water)

 Context examples 

A unit of anti-coagulation potency of antithrombin determined as the amount of antithrombin that neutralizes one unit of World Health Organization preparation 89/588 of thrombin.

(Anti-Thrombin Unit, NCI Thesaurus)

Antioxidants bind to and neutralize ('scavenge') free radicals, thereby transforming them into non-toxic compounds and blocking their genotoxic and carcinogenic effects.

(Antioxidant, NCI Thesaurus)

The property of being able to chemically neutralize both acids and bases thereby maintaining the original pH of the solution.

(Buffered, NCI Thesaurus)

Upon administration, anti-SEMA4D monoclonal antibody VX15/2503 binds to and neutralizes SEMA4D, thereby preventing binding of SEMA4D to its receptor plexin-B1 (PLXNB1).

(Anti-SEMA4D Monoclonal Antibody VX15/2503, NCI Thesaurus)

A neutralizing antibody against the prolactin receptor (PRLR) with potential antineoplastic activity.

(Anti-prolactin Receptor Antibody LFA102, NCI Thesaurus)

Upon intravenous administration, anti-CD123 monoclonal antibody CSL362 binds to and neutralizes CD123.

(Anti-CD123 Monoclonal Antibody CSL362, NCI Thesaurus)

Upon administration, anti-CD70 monoclonal antibody ARGX-110 selectively binds to, and neutralizes the activity of CD70, which may also induce an antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) response against CD70-expressing tumor cells.

(Anti-CD70 Monoclonal Antibody ARGX-110, NCI Thesaurus)

Anti-GnRH vaccine PEP223 may stimulate the immune system to mount a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response against GnRH, neutralizing its activity.

(Anti-GnRH Vaccine PEP223, NCI Thesaurus)

This agent may both prevent the formation of free radicals and neutralize free radicals.

(Curcumin C3 Complex, NCI Thesaurus)

DKK1-neutralizing monoclonal antibody DKN-01 binds to and inhibits DKK1, which restores Wnt pathway signaling.

(DKK1-Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody DKN-01, NCI Thesaurus)