as in nullifying
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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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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
Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Seizing or neutralizing Kharg Island Kharg Island is the centerpiece of Iran’s oil export system.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Purdue had done a better job neutralizing the Bruins’ dynamic point guard than UCLA’s previous two opponents, having held him to only two points in 10 minutes.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
The Spurs deployed myriad defensive coverages against Cade Cunningham in the two matchups, and their objective of neutralizing him was clear.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 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
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
Trump has repeatedly said the higher energy costs are a small price to pay for neutralizing Iran.
—Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Seizing or neutralizing Kharg Island Kharg Island is the centerpiece of Iran’s oil export system.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Purdue had done a better job neutralizing the Bruins’ dynamic point guard than UCLA’s previous two opponents, having held him to only two points in 10 minutes.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2026
The Spurs deployed myriad defensive coverages against Cade Cunningham in the two matchups, and their objective of neutralizing him was clear.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neutralizing
Verb
-
The billions of dollars that Haitians send home, the IMF said, have helped the government’s Central Bank reserves, while offsetting the high fuel prices despite the uncertainty surrounding the potential termination of Haitians’ Temporary Protected Status in the United States.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
For renters or families with limited outdoor space, container gardening in partial shade is one of the most accessible ways to start offsetting produce costs.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Israel appears to have taken the lead on assassinating even low-level figures linked to Iran’s nuclear program while systematically degrading the knowledge centers that could prove useful in the future.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Attorneys for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of assassinating conservative icon Charlie Kirk, have revealed who prosecutors intend to call to the stand and also asked the court to delay the preliminary hearing.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For years, the state paid transportation providers as much as 10 times the appropriate rate to pick up Medicaid patients who use large wheelchairs, and the department estimated that correcting the mistake would save $33 million over roughly six months.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Preventing soil compaction is far easier than correcting it.—
Nora Doonan,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And in Ashley and Marsha's texts about murdering Harold, there was a reference to Ty.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Police arrested Bowen, 40, on Wednesday, charged with murdering his wife in their Coral Springs home and tampering with evidence.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is a prerequisite for executing quantum algorithms.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
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When that agent is sitting on top of your brokerage account or executing financial API calls, even a single failure can produce immediate, realized loss.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a text message, Intriago wrote that certain Americans needed Charles’ protection after acting under a Haitian judge’s order that led to Moïse’s slaying more than four years ago.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
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Taylor, 35, has been slaying this award season, not only on the red carpet but also by earning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress in Paul Thomas Anderson's action dramedy.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But last year a single pack was responsible for killing about 100 calves in less than seven months in the high ranchland of Sierra County north of Truckee, costing ranchers and the state millions and terrifying residents.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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Prosecutors, meanwhile, argue that Clancy carefully planned and plotted before allegedly killing her three children by sending her husband out of the house.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Neutralizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neutralizing. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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