neutralise

neutralise — 動詞

1. to cancel out a force, threat, or advantage that something or someone has, so it

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

抵銷；化解

讓威脅或優勢失去作用

to cancel out a force, threat, or advantage that something or someone has, so it no longer changes the result.

例句

The defenders managed to neutralise the striker for most of the second half.

防守球員大部分下半場都成功化解了這位前鋒的攻勢。

neutralise + [person seen as a threat]

Sivan added cream to the curry to neutralise the heat from the chilli.

Sivan 在咖哩裡加奶油，抵銷辣椒的辣味。

neutralise + [sensation or effect]

同義詞
  • counteract

    common everyday choice; stresses the opposing action

  • offset

    often used for numbers, costs, or measurable advantages

  • nullify

    more formal; suggests making something legally or fully void

反義詞
  • reinforce

    strengthens rather than cancels an effect

  • amplify

    increases the impact instead of removing it

文法句型

neutralise + [threat/risk/advantage]

neutralise + [the effect/impact of] + [noun]

用法筆記

Object is usually something the speaker views as unwanted: a threat, a risk, an advantage held by someone else, or an effect that would otherwise change the outcome. Distinguish from sense 2 (chemistry): sense 1 is figurative or general, sense 2 is the strict acid/alkali reading.

常見錯誤

❌The medicine neutralised her pain quickly.
✅The medicine relieved her pain quickly.
💡'neutralise' suggests cancelling out an opposing force, not simply easing a feeling.

2. in chemistry, to mix an acid and a base together so the result is neither acidic

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

中和

化學上讓酸鹼互相抵消

in chemistry, to mix an acid and a base together so the result is neither acidic nor alkaline.

例句

Adding a small spoon of baking soda will neutralise the lemon juice in the sauce.

加一小匙小蘇打就能中和醬汁裡的檸檬汁。

[base] + neutralise + [acid]

Hyun showed the class how milk of magnesia can neutralise stomach acid.

Hyun 向全班示範鎂乳如何中和胃酸。

neutralise + [acid in the body]

同義詞
  • balance

    everyday word; less technical than 'neutralise'

  • buffer

    specifically keeping the pH stable rather than reaching neutral once

反義詞
  • acidify

    makes a solution more acidic instead of neutral

  • alkalinise

    makes a solution more alkaline instead of neutral

文法句型

neutralise + [acid/alkali]

[substance] + neutralises + [substance]

用法筆記

Only used about acids and bases in chemistry or related fields such as gardening, medicine, or cleaning. Subject is usually a base or buffer; object is usually an acid (or the other way round). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 has a measurable pH meaning, while sense 1 is about cancelling forces or threats.

常見錯誤

❌The water neutralised the salt.
✅The water diluted the salt.
💡salt is not an acid or alkali, so 'neutralise' does not fit here.

3. in military or police language, to kill an enemy or to stop a target so they can

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

擊斃；制伏

軍警用語：殺死或制止目標

in military or police language, to kill an enemy or to stop a target so they can no longer fight or attack.

例句

The unit was sent in to neutralise the gunmen who had taken the building.

部隊被派去制伏佔據那棟建築的持槍歹徒。

neutralise + [armed attackers]

Two suspects were neutralised by the police during the raid in the harbour.

在港口的突襲中，兩名嫌犯被警方擊斃。

passive: be neutralised by + [force]

同義詞
  • eliminate

    also formal military language for killing a target

  • take out

    informal; common in news and action films

反義詞
  • spare

    to choose not to kill or harm someone

文法句型

neutralise + [target/enemy/suspect]

be neutralised by + [military/security force]

用法筆記

Frequently passive ('was neutralised'). Used by armed forces, police, and journalists as a softer, official-sounding word for killing or destroying. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 always involves people or weapons in violent conflict; sense 1 is about cancelling an effect without violence.

常見錯誤

❌The teacher neutralised the noisy student.
✅The teacher quieted the noisy student.
💡outside military or police contexts, 'neutralise' for stopping a person sounds disturbing or wrong.

4. during a cycling or car race, to officially pause the action for a short time so

4.動詞及物C2
釋義

中立化

自行車或賽車比賽暫停以保持時差

during a cycling or car race, to officially pause the action for a short time so the time gaps between competitors are kept exactly as they were before.

例句

Race officials neutralised the cycling stage after a crash blocked the mountain road.

由於一場車禍封住山路，賽事官員將這個自行車賽段中立化。

neutralise + [the stage/race]

The race was neutralised for ten minutes while marshals cleared broken glass from the track.

賽事中立化十分鐘，工作人員清理賽道上的碎玻璃。

passive: the race was neutralised for + [time]

同義詞
  • suspend

    general word for stopping a contest for a short time

  • freeze

    informal; stresses that the time gaps stay the same

反義詞
  • resume

    to start the race again after a pause

文法句型

neutralise + [the race/stage]

the race was neutralised after + [event]

用法筆記

Specialist term in road cycling and some motor-racing reports; rarely heard outside sports coverage. Often passive ('the race was neutralised'). Distinguish from sense 1: sense 4 means freezing the time gaps during a race, not cancelling someone's advantage in general.

常見錯誤

❌They neutralised the football match because of rain.
✅They paused / suspended the football match because of rain.
💡'neutralise' for stopping a contest is specific to cycling and some motorsports.