Meaning & use
neutralizes
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“neutralizes” is a form of “neutralize”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
makes something harmless or stops it from having an effect
Grammar: Takes an object: neutralizes the threat.
Patterns
- neutralize something
- neutralize the effect of something
A good lawyer neutralizes the other side's strongest argument.
This medicine neutralizes the poison before it spreads.
The new policy neutralizes the advantage that larger companies had.
verbtransitivechemistry
in chemistry, makes a substance neither acid nor alkaline
Grammar: Takes an object, often an acid or a base: neutralizes the acid.
Patterns
- neutralize an acid
- neutralize a base
Adding lime neutralizes the acid in the soil.
An antacid neutralizes stomach acid and relieves heartburn.
verbtransitivemilitary
in military contexts, makes an enemy or target unable to fight or operate
Grammar: Takes an object: neutralizes the target.
Patterns
- neutralize a target
- neutralize an enemy position
The airstrike neutralizes enemy air defenses.
Troops were sent to neutralize the threat before it reached the city.
Word forms
| base form | neutralize |
|---|---|
| third person singular | neutralizes |
| past tense | neutralized |
| past participle | neutralized |
| -ing form | neutralizing |
Common combinations
- neutralize a threat
- The security team moved quickly to neutralize the threat.
- neutralize an effect
- Higher wages can neutralize the effect of inflation.
- neutralize an acid
- The lab technician neutralized the acid with a base.
- neutralize an advantage
- Their speed neutralizes the other team's advantage in size.
Synonyms and how they differ
- counteract
- Counteract is often used for opposing an effect gradually, while neutralize suggests making something completely harmless.
- cancel out
- Cancel out is informal and used when two things balance each other, not when one side actively removes a danger.
- nullify
- Nullify is more formal and often legal, meaning to make something invalid rather than physically harmless.
Opposites
Word family
- neutralization noun
- the act of making something harmless or chemically neutral
- neutral adjective
- not supporting either side; also neither acid nor alkaline
- neutrality noun
- the state of not supporting either side in a conflict
- neutralizer noun
- a substance or person that neutralizes something
Commonly confused: neutralizes or naturalizes?
neutralizes vs naturalizes
Naturalizes means makes someone a citizen or makes a plant at home in a new area; it sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses neutralizes correctly?
Choose one answer.
Neutralizes is transitive and means makes something harmless or chemically neutral, so 'The base neutralizes the acid' fits. Option 0 uses it as if it meant 'arranges', option 2 needs a different verb, and option 3 has a subject-verb agreement error (they neutralize).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “neutralizes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.