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🚫 Counteracting ⚗️ A chemical reaction 🕊️ Making neutral 🎯 Elimination
neutralization

neutralization

9.1
Removing a dangerous person or group, often by killing them during an operation
  • noun
  • /ˌnjuːtrəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
  • NSFW
translation icon : neutralización
  • The destruction of the idol assailed by the prophet Muhammad in the passage from the Book of Idols cited above is divided into different moments, which seem to index respectively a process of neutralization and destruction often repeated in later Muslim encounters with idols.

Examples

  • Intact, Brannigan and McDougall (1983) reported that methods of "danger neutralization."

    Academic text (1994)

  • In this 'film noir', Magnum TI calls for the neutralization of 'Big Cheese Madigan' by making him the house minority leader.

    Blog text (17)

  • We considered it possible that this reduction could have been due to neutralization of the enterotoxin produced by S. enterica.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The special forces conducted a covert operation to ensure the neutralization of the terrorist threat in the region.

  • The military's mission focused on the neutralization of enemy targets to stabilize the area.

  • During the operation, the team prioritized the neutralization of any potential threats to civilian safety.

Synonyms

elimination
vsneutralization
77 3.5

The act of removing something you do not need

usually means neutral removal by killing directed at a threat in operations
annihilation
vsneutralization
  • NSFW
47 8.1

Complete destruction so nothing is left

is narrower, focusing on killing a threat rather than broad total destruction
extermination
vsneutralization
  • NSFW
32 7.4

A complete killing or removal of a group of living things

is about removing a threat by killing, often secretly or in military action
eradication
vsneutralization
19 6.8

Complete removal of something unwanted

is specifically about killing a threat rather than general removal methods
obliteration
vsneutralization
6 7.9

Complete destruction that leaves nothing behind

targets elimination of a threat by killing rather than merely removing traces

Compounds

neutralization reaction
  • Specialized
4.2

A reaction where an acid and a base make salt and water

neutralization fire
  • Specialized
8.4

Shooting at a place to stop the enemy using it without destroying it

How Severe

destruction
849 3.0
elimination
77 3.5
neutralization
  • NSFW
9.1
disruption
126 4.1
containment
27 6.1

Surface Forms

neutralization singular
neutralizations plural

Morphology

neutralization = neutralize (semi-transparent) = neutral + ize + ation

The euphemistic military sense ('remove a threat', often by killing) is a metaphorical extension of 'make neutral' and thus the relation is not fully obvious to learners.

Etymology

Neutralization comes from neutral ('neither') and -ization ('making'). A helpful way to remember the military use is this: to 'neutralize' a threat is to make it 'no longer dangerous', and in war language that can mean destroying or killing the danger.