English Meaning & Definitions
To render something ineffective or harmless by applying an opposite force or effect.
- “The police squad was sent to neutralize the explosive device.”
- “Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals in the body.”
To counterbalance or counteract the effect of something so that it has no effect.
- “The company's poor customer service tended to neutralize its innovative product designs.”
- “A strong cup of coffee can help neutralize the drowsiness caused by the medication.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “neutralize”.
Derived from the French 'neutraliser', based on Latin 'neuter' meaning 'neither the one nor the other', with the suffix '-ize' (forming verbs). It originally entered chemical terminology in the 18th century to describe the process of making an acid or alkali neutral before expanding into general figurative use.
Think of 'neutral'—to neutralize something is to make it neutral, like Switzerland staying out of a conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions About “neutralize”
1. What is the meaning of “neutralize” in English?
In English, neutralize (verb) is defined as: “To render something ineffective or harmless by applying an opposite force or effect.”.
2. How do you use “neutralize” in a sentence?
“The police squad was sent to neutralize the explosive device.”
3. What are English synonyms of “neutralize”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “neutralize”?
Derived from the French 'neutraliser', based on Latin 'neuter' meaning 'neither the one nor the other', with the suffix '-ize' (forming verbs). It originally entered chemical terminology in the 18th century to describe the process of making an acid or alkali neutral before expanding into general figurative use.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.