neutralize

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "neutralize" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of making something ineffective or counteracting its effects. Example: "The team worked to neutralize the threat posed by the malware before it could cause any damage."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A recent piece by D. W. Haslett (2002) also conceives of affirmative action as a way to neutralize "tainted" advantages enjoyed by whites, although he concedes that the neutralization is "extremely rough" (83).

SEP

SKC's defense must look to neutralize the Magee threat.

The Guardian - Sport

The season opener was far from spectacular, but Málaga's balanced defence did well to neutralize Bilbao's talented set of attacking players.

The Guardian - Sport

Geithner and other Summers allies have been conspiring – make that "comparing notes" – via conference call on how to effectively neutralize the criticism of Summers in the press.

The Guardian - Opinion

In the old days, evasion came in the form of the content-free press release, used by stars and their agents to neutralize scandal through brain-numbing denial.

The Guardian - Opinion

This also implies that the euro zone ought to respond with easier monetary policy which would both neutralize upward pressure on the euro and combat recession in the euro zone.But Mr Eichengreen notes that unlike in the 1930s, today there is a large group of emerging economies who did not suffer a deflationary shock and thus would not benefit from easier monetary policy.

The Economist

When countries intervene on that magnitude, I don't think all the hedge funds and investment banks in the world are enough to neutralize that effect.

The Economist

Meanwhile money (and time is money too) is wasted that could be spent on more effective intelligence, trying to identify and neutralize threats before they get to an airport.This is a familiar theme, that if you want to prevent attacks, you need carefully acquired intelligence rather than confiscated nail scissors and shampoo.

The Economist

If he could neutralize the 1st Army, he would have both hands free to tackle the 8th Army, which had become thinned out as its lines of supply had lengthened.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Charles V commissioned the Breton captain Bertrand du Guesclin to neutralize them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 2010 scientists reported the discovery of naturally occurring antibodies that neutralize (inactivate) about 90 percent of HIV strains and hence have considerable potential for facilitating the generation of vaccines for HIV prevention.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about scientific or technical topics, consider using "neutralize" to describe how specific elements or compounds interact to cancel each other out. For example, "The base solution will neutralize the acid."

Common error

While "neutralize" is a versatile term, avoid using it excessively in informal writing where simpler alternatives like "counteract" or "offset" might sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "neutralize" is a transitive verb. It describes the act of rendering something ineffective, harmless, or balanced. Ludwig shows examples across varied contexts, affirming its usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

31%

News & Media

29%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "neutralize" is a versatile term used to describe the act of rendering something ineffective or harmless. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in scientific, encyclopedic, and news contexts. While "neutralize" is suitable for technical and formal writing, remember to consider simpler alternatives like "counteract" or "offset" in more informal settings. Using "neutralize" effectively involves recognizing its strength in conveying a balancing or negating action, particularly in complex or sensitive situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

counteract

Emphasizes opposing an effect with an equal or opposite force.

counterbalance

Highlights the idea of creating equilibrium by offsetting opposing forces.

nullify

Implies making something legally void or ineffective.

negate

Suggests denying the existence or validity of something.

invalidate

Focuses on proving something to be without legal or factual basis.

offset

Indicates compensating for something with a counterbalancing effect.

cancel out

Implies that two or more things have opposite effects, so that when combined they produce no overall effect.

suppress

Focuses on forcibly preventing something from developing or being expressed.

weaken

Signifies reducing the strength or effectiveness of something.

mitigate

Involves lessening the severity or impact of something negative.

FAQs

How can I use "neutralize" in a sentence?

You can use "neutralize" to describe making something ineffective or harmless. For example: "The security team worked to neutralize the threat."

What are some alternatives to the word "neutralize"?

You can use alternatives like "counteract", "offset", or "nullify" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "neutralize the effect" or "counteract the effect"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "counteract the effect" might be more appropriate in general contexts. "Neutralize" can sometimes imply a more complete or scientific action.

Can "neutralize" be used in a figurative sense?

Yes, "neutralize" can be used figuratively to describe counteracting or negating something non-physical, such as an argument or a political advantage. For example, "The politician tried to neutralize the negative press coverage."