as in nullifying
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in offsetting
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
a pro-government rally that is intended to neutralize the antiwar demonstrations
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in assassinating
to put to death deliberately
orders to find the renegade colonel and to neutralize him
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of neutralizing
Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Baking Soda As an alkaline compound, baking soda is skilled at neutralizing odors.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
From there, researchers could comb through the libraries to identify any broadly neutralizing nanobodies.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025
Palivizumab bound to the prefusion and postfusion F proteins, but the most strongly neutralizing antibodies against RSV were those that only targeted the virus’s prefusion structure.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Next-gen strike missile Developed by Lockheed Martin, PrSM is the next-generation surface-to-surface weapon system designed to enhance deterrence and provide advanced capabilities for neutralizing, suppressing, and destroying targets at depth.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026
For now, the Supreme Court ruling has effectively installed a strict near-term ceiling on trade barriers, substantially neutralizing the threat of runaway tariff escalation.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
This versatile liquid, which is probably already in your kitchen cabinet, is great for cutting through grease, removing stains, neutralizing odors, and tackling a variety of household tasks, like making the bathtub sparkle.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
Fabric softener counteracts those negative charges, neutralizing them.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Feb. 2026
The Israel Defense Forces conducted approximately 80 brigade-level counterterrorism operations over the past year in the West Bank — known to Israelis as Judea and Samaria — neutralizing hundreds of terrorists and seizing more than 1,300 weapons, according to data released by the military.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The in-shower treatment bolsters shine and intense hydration, while neutralizing discoloration.
—Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
In November, Californians passed Proposition 50, which shifts the state’s map to be more conducive to Democratic candidates, therefore possibly neutralizing the Texas plan.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Adjective
By partly neutralizing criticism that its leaders are elitist or antidemocratic, the right has been able to focus on issues that play to its strengths.
—Brian Winter, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Baking Soda As an alkaline compound, baking soda is skilled at neutralizing odors.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 12 Dec. 2025
From there, researchers could comb through the libraries to identify any broadly neutralizing nanobodies.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025
Palivizumab bound to the prefusion and postfusion F proteins, but the most strongly neutralizing antibodies against RSV were those that only targeted the virus’s prefusion structure.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Spurs deployed myriad defensive coverages against Cade Cunningham in the two matchups, and their objective of neutralizing him was clear.
—Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Next-gen strike missile Developed by Lockheed Martin, PrSM is the next-generation surface-to-surface weapon system designed to enhance deterrence and provide advanced capabilities for neutralizing, suppressing, and destroying targets at depth.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Mar. 2026
For now, the Supreme Court ruling has effectively installed a strict near-term ceiling on trade barriers, substantially neutralizing the threat of runaway tariff escalation.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
This versatile liquid, which is probably already in your kitchen cabinet, is great for cutting through grease, removing stains, neutralizing odors, and tackling a variety of household tasks, like making the bathtub sparkle.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
Fabric softener counteracts those negative charges, neutralizing them.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Feb. 2026
The Israel Defense Forces conducted approximately 80 brigade-level counterterrorism operations over the past year in the West Bank — known to Israelis as Judea and Samaria — neutralizing hundreds of terrorists and seizing more than 1,300 weapons, according to data released by the military.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The in-shower treatment bolsters shine and intense hydration, while neutralizing discoloration.
—Ruby McAuliffe, InStyle, 21 Jan. 2026
In November, Californians passed Proposition 50, which shifts the state’s map to be more conducive to Democratic candidates, therefore possibly neutralizing the Texas plan.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neutralizing
Verb
-
Strong support across heavily Hispanic counties in South Texas helped propel Talarico past Crockett, offsetting her large margins in Houston and Dallas.—
Gromer Jeffers Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
But the reserve remains and has been tapped for various reasons over time, from offsetting the impact of hurricanes and ship-channel closings to raising money for deficit reduction.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Fortune,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 1969, James Earl Ray pleaded guilty in Memphis, Tennessee, to assassinating civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The presiding judge in the case against Tyler Robinson, accused of assassinating conservative icon Charlie Kirk last September, will rule on a critical defense motion today.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Collectively, these offices have saved taxpayers millions of dollars by identifying improper spending, correcting internal controls and preventing future losses.—
Vaughn Stewart,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The medical examiner’s office on March 5 reissued Robinson’s demographic report, with a note correcting that he had not yet been sent to the agency for an autopsy.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And Bill Clinton took military action in 1999 to stop mass-murdering Serbian dictator Slobodan Milosevic.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Huntley denied murdering the two 10-year-olds, but was convicted after a trial at London's Central Criminal Court in 2003.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Given that people around the world are already accused of planning and executing deadly crimes with help from chatbots, the report is disturbing.—
Maggie Harrison Dupré,
Futurism,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Hope said executing that release required hiring 32 different vendors across the campaign, an experience that exposed a major structural gap in the industry.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 16-year-old son of slaying victim Yesenia Hall heard his mom’s screams from the bedroom of their third-floor apartment early Saturday.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Robert Early Madden, 37, was found guilty by a San Diego Superior Court jury of first-degree murder and a special circumstance allegation of committing the killing during a robbery for the July 15, 2024, slaying of 38-year-old Senait Legesse.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Three glide bombs struck the center of the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk, killing four people, the head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Vadym Filashkin, said Tuesday.—
HANNA ARHIROVA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Neutralizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neutralizing. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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