English verb: neutralize | |||
1. | neutralize (social) make politically neutral and thus inoffensive | ||
Samples | The treaty neutralized the small republic. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | co-opt | ||
2. | neutralize (change) make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of | ||
Samples | Her optimism neutralizes his gloom. This action will negate the effect of my efforts. | ||
Synonyms | negate, neutralise, nullify | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | weaken | ||
3. | neutralize (social) oppose and mitigate the effects of by contrary actions | ||
Samples | This will counteract the foolish actions of my colleagues. | ||
Synonyms | counteract, counterbalance, countervail | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cancel, offset, set off | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | override | ||
4. | neutralize (contact) get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing | ||
Samples | The mafia liquidated the informer. The double agent was neutralized. | ||
Synonyms | do in, knock off, liquidate, neutralise, waste | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | kill | ||
5. | neutralize (competition) make incapable of military action | ||
Synonyms | neutralise | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | demilitarise, demilitarize | ||
6. | neutralize (change) make chemically neutral | ||
Samples | She neutralized the solution. | ||
Synonyms | neutralise | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | alter, change, modify | ||