neutralize

/ˈnjuːtrəlaɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈnuːtrəlaɪz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈnü-trə-ˌlīz ˈnyü-/ (ame, mw)

neutralize — 動詞

  • neutralizepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • neutralizeshe / she / it
  • neutralizedpast simple
  • neutralizing-ing form

1. to stop something or someone from causing harm or producing a result, by acting

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

抵銷；抵消

用相反作用阻止某事產生效果

to stop something or someone from causing harm or producing a result, by acting against that thing or person.

例句

The pilots dropped flares to neutralize the heat-seeking missiles fired at the plane.

飛行員投放熱焰彈，以抵銷射向飛機的熱追蹤飛彈。

neutralize + noun (threat / weapon)

Manuela took an antacid to neutralize the burning feeling in her stomach.

Manuela 服用了一顆胃藥，來抵銷胃裡的灼熱感。

neutralize + noun (sensation)

同義詞
  • counteract

    very close synonym; slightly more formal and common with abstract forces

  • offset

    stresses balancing out rather than stopping completely

  • nullify

    more formal; emphasises reducing to zero, often in legal or contractual contexts

反義詞

文法句型

neutralize + noun (effect, threat, impact)

用法筆記

Object is usually something unwanted or threatening — a threat, advantage, weapon, sensation, or rival player. Often paired with deliberate action by the subject.

常見錯誤

❌The medicine neutralized her headache away.
✅The medicine neutralized her headache.
💡'neutralize' takes the noun directly; no particle like 'away'.

2. to change a substance so that it is no longer acid and no longer alkali, usually

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

中和

讓酸鹼物質不再呈酸性或鹼性

to change a substance so that it is no longer acid and no longer alkali, usually by adding the opposite kind of chemical.

例句

Élise added a small amount of baking soda to neutralize the vinegar in the sink.

Élise 加了一點小蘇打，來中和水槽裡的醋。

neutralize + acid/alkali noun

Lime is often spread on farm fields to neutralize soil that has become too acidic.

農地上常常會撒石灰，以中和變得太酸的土壤。

passive use in agricultural / scientific writing

同義詞
  • balance

    more general; not specifically a chemistry term

  • counteract

    broader; works for chemistry as well as abstract forces

反義詞
  • acidify

    to make a substance more acid rather than neutral

文法句型

neutralize + noun (acid, alkali, solution)

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is the literal chemistry meaning. If the object is a substance, acid, base, or pH level, you are in sense 2. Sense 1 covers abstract or non-chemical forces.

常見錯誤

❌I neutralized the lemon to make it sweeter.
✅I added sugar to balance the sourness of the lemon.
💡neutralizing an acid removes the acidity but does not make food sweet; the word is chemistry-specific.

3. in military or government language, to kill an enemy person or destroy them so t

3.動詞及物C2
釋義

擊斃；殲滅

軍方或政府用語，將敵人擊殺

in military or government language, to kill an enemy person or destroy them so that they can no longer fight.

例句

Special forces moved through the building to neutralize the gunmen on the upper floor.

特種部隊在大樓裡推進，準備擊斃樓上的槍手。

object is hostile combatant

Officials announced that the leader of the armed group had been neutralized in the raid.

官方宣布，那個武裝團體的首領已在突襲中被擊斃。

passive: has been neutralized — common in news reports

同義詞
  • eliminate

    another formal military euphemism for killing

  • take out

    informal; same idea, common in spoken and journalistic English

文法句型

neutralize + noun (target, person, enemy)

用法筆記

A euphemism — speakers avoid the blunt word 'kill' by using 'neutralize' to sound official or technical. Subject is usually a military unit, government agency, or weapon system; object is a hostile person or group.

常見錯誤

❌The robber was neutralized by the shopkeeper with a stick.
✅The robber was knocked out by the shopkeeper with a stick.
💡'neutralize' in this sense belongs to military or police writing about killing, not to everyday self-defence stories.

4. for cycling and car-racing events, to officially pause the timing of a race for

4.動詞及物C2
釋義

暫停計時

賽事中暫時停止比賽計時

for cycling and car-racing events, to officially pause the timing of a race for a short period, usually because of an accident or danger ahead on the road.

例句

Race officials decided to neutralize the stage after a serious crash near the finish line.

賽會官員決定，在終點線附近發生嚴重撞車後，暫停這站比賽的計時。

subject is race official / governing body

Heavy fog forced the organisers to neutralize the final climb of the mountain stage.

濃霧迫使主辦單位暫停了山地賽段最後一段爬坡的計時。

passive-style: forced to neutralize

同義詞
  • suspend

    more general; suspending a race may end it, whereas neutralizing only pauses the timing

反義詞

文法句型

neutralize + noun (race, stage, lap)

用法筆記

Highly domain-specific to cycling and motor racing. Subject is almost always 'officials', 'marshals', 'organisers', or 'the race director'. The neutralized period does not affect the gaps between riders.

常見錯誤

❌The fans neutralized the race by running onto the track.
✅The fans caused the race to be stopped by running onto the track.
💡only the race officials can neutralize a race; spectators cannot.

5. to give a country or area a special status during a war or conflict so that no s

5.動詞及物C2
釋義

宣布中立

正式賦予某地區戰時中立地位

to give a country or area a special status during a war or conflict so that no side may attack it or use it for fighting.

例句

After the treaty was signed, the great powers agreed to neutralize the small mountain kingdom.

條約簽訂之後，列強同意宣布那個山中小王國為中立國。

subject is a state or coalition

Nadia argued that neutralizing the border region would protect civilians during the long war.

Nadia 主張，把邊境地區宣布為中立區，可以在這場長期戰爭中保護平民。

neutralize + zone / region

同義詞
  • demilitarize

    narrower: focuses on removing armed forces; neutralizing also forbids attacks by others

文法句型

neutralize + noun (country, zone, territory)

用法筆記

Formal political and diplomatic register. Subject is typically a state, international body, or treaty; object is a country, zone, or territory. Often appears in the passive form 'be neutralized by treaty'.

常見錯誤

❌Our company neutralized the office during the strike.
✅Our company declared the office a no-protest zone during the strike.
💡'neutralize' in this sense belongs to international politics, not workplace disputes.