neutralise
To stop something from having an effect, or to make its effect weaker.
To counteract something so that its effect is reduced or completely cancelled.
To make someone or something dangerous unable to do harm.
To stop a person, group, or dangerous thing from being able to act effectively, especially by restraining, disabling, or destroying it.
To make a liquid not acidic and not alkaline.
To make a substance neither acidic nor alkaline, especially by adding another substance so the acid and base react.
To make a strong smell, taste, colour, or tone less strong and more neutral.
To remove or reduce a strong quality (such as colour, taste, smell, or tone) so that something becomes more neutral or balanced.
- Base: neutralise
- 3rd Person Singular: neutralises
- Present Participle: neutralising
- Past: neutralised
neutralise a bomb
1make an explosive safe
To make a bomb safe.
- Specialists were called in to neutralise the bomb.
- The device was neutralised before anyone was hurt.
- They evacuated the area while the team worked to neutralise the explosive.
- Experts neutralised the bomb.
neutralise a threat
1stop danger from acting
To stop a danger.
- The pilot took action to neutralise the threat of a mid-air collision.
- Officers moved quickly to neutralise the threat to bystanders.
- The update was meant to neutralise the threat posed by the malware.
- The police neutralised the threat.
neutralise an acid
1remove acidity by reaction
To make an acid not acidic.
- Add the base slowly to neutralise the acid.
- They used limestone to neutralise the acid in the lake.
- In the experiment, the goal was to neutralise the acid completely.
- We neutralised the acid with a base.
neutralise each other
1cancel each other out
Two things make each other have no effect.
- The two medicines can neutralise each other if taken together.
- Their strengths and weaknesses tended to neutralise each other in the partnership.
- In the final calculation, the gains and losses neutralised each other.
- These two forces neutralise each other.
neutralise the effects of [something]
1cancel out an effect
To stop something from affecting you.
- They planted trees to help neutralise the effects of pollution.
- The extra training helped neutralise the effects of his lack of experience.
- He took a break to neutralise the effects of stress.
- Sleep can neutralise the effects of tiredness.