Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🎯 To remove danger 🚫 To counteract ⚗️ To make harmless 🏳️ To make neutral
to neutralize

to neutralize

19 5.8
To make an acid or other chemical safe by a reaction
  • verb
  • /ˈnjuːtrəˌlaɪz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : neutralizar
  • To neutralize an acid, you can add a base, which will create a safe chemical reaction.
  • neutralize acids
  • neutralize static charges
  • neutralizing antibodies

It acts like a toxin sponge and a toxin magnet, and it can even neutralize acids.

Examples

  • The lime neutralizes unwanted organic acids and forms an insoluble complex with phosphates.

    Academic text (2003)

  • They got an aqueous solution that neutralizes acid.

  • OK, guys, when an acid combines with a base, they neutralize each other.

  • Or you can use vinegar to neutralize the burn.

    Fight Club (1999)

  • The NA plus ions neutralize these OH negative ions over here.

  • Vitamin C is supposed to neutralize the nitrates or something.

    Friday the 13th (1980)

  • So here the base is reacting with the acid and trying to neutralize the pH.

  • The compound then neutralizes them before they can attack and corrode sensitive materials.

    Academic text (1998)

  • A crate of antacids-- alka-seltzer-- anything alkaline will neutralize the acid.

    Live Wire (1992)

  • Rescue stations at campgrounds and beaches stock jugs of vinegar, which can help neutralize jellyfish venom.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

to decontaminate
vsto neutralize
  • Specialized
9 7.0

To remove harmful substances from a place or thing to make it safe

focuses on chemical reactions to alter substances rather than broad cleaning
to detoxify
vsto neutralize
2 5.4

To remove harmful substances from something to make it safe

uses chemical reactions to make substances neutral or harmless
to decon
vsto neutralize
  • Jargon
1 8.4

To remove dangerous substances from people, equipment, or areas

changes substance properties via chemical reaction rather than only removing residues
to detoxicate
vsto neutralize
7.5

Take harmful substances out of something to make it safe

acts by chemical reaction to change harmful substances into harmless forms
to deacidify
vsto neutralize
  • Specialized
7.7

To remove acid from something, especially old paper or wine, to stop damage

works by chemical reaction to make acids neutral or harmless

Antonyms

to toxify
1 8.2

To make something poisonous by adding harmful things

Phrasal Verbs

to neutralize the taste
  • US
4.4

To make a strong or bad flavor weaker by adding another ingredient

How Neutral

to neutralize
  • Specialized
19 5.8
to deactivate
63 3.9

Surface Forms

neutralize infinitive
neutralized past
neutralized past participle
neutralizing present participle
neutralizes third person singular

Morphology

neutralize = neutral (transparent) = neutral + ize

The verb is formed by adding the productive suffix '-ize' to 'neutral', yielding the literal sense 'make neutral' used in chemistry.

Etymology

Neutralize comes from the Latin word neuter, which means 'neither of the two', and it is the same root as English neutral. So to neutralize an acid is to make it 'neither' acid nor base, and thus less harmful.