neutralize

American  

[noo-truh-lahyz, nyoo-] / ˈnu trəˌlaɪz, ˈnyu- /

especially British, neutralise

verb (used with object)

neutralized, neutralizing

1. to make neutral; cause to undergo neutralization.

2. to make (something) ineffective; counteract; nullify.

   carelessness that neutralized our efforts.

3. Military. to put out of action or make incapable of action.

   to neutralize an enemy position.

4. to declare neutral; invest with neutrality in order to exempt from involvement during a war.

   to neutralize a city to prevent bombing.

5. to add an acid to a basic solution or a base to an acidic solution until the resulting solution is chemically neutral (pH = 7).

6. Electricity. to render electrically or magnetically neutral.

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verb (used without object)

neutralized, neutralizing

1. to become neutral or neutralized; undergo neutralization.

   With this additive the solution begins to neutralize.

neutralize British  

/ ˈnjuːtrəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. (also intr) to render or become ineffective or neutral by counteracting, mixing, etc; nullify

2. (also intr) to make or become electrically or chemically neutral

3. to exclude (a country) from the sphere of warfare or alliances by international agreement

   the great powers neutralized Belgium in the 19th century

4. to render (an army) incapable of further military action

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neutralize Scientific  

/ no̅o̅′trə-līz′ /

1. To cause an acidic solution to become neutral by adding a base to it or to cause a basic solution to become neutral by adding an acid to it. Salt and water are usually formed in the process.

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Other Word Forms

• neutralization noun
• neutralizer noun
• overneutralize verb (used with object)
• overneutralizer noun
• reneutralize verb
• unneutralize verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of neutralize

First recorded in 1655–65; neutral + -ize

Example Sentences

All told, that means 39% of the total 282 million shares that Nvidia repurchased were needed merely to neutralize the dilution from the newly issued shares.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Increasing merger activity should also be expected as incumbents seek to neutralize emerging competitors.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

Researchers may also be able to design therapies that block or neutralize these circulating extracellular vesicles, reducing their damaging effects on the heart.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

The new terms neutralize one of Paramount’s primary criticisms: that the stock portion of the Netflix offer makes its bid inferior.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

Thus, under physiological conditions, there would always be positively charged ions like sodium or magnesium lying nearby to neutralize the negatively charged phosphate groups.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Related Words

• compensate for
• counterbalance
• negate
• nullify
• offset
• overcome
• redress
• subdue