New York

erronis

(24,359 posts)

6. While "neuter" may be a fun operation to perform (if you can find it/them), "neutralize is just fine.

Wed Apr 29, 2026, 05:28 PM

Wednesday

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neutralize

1
: to make chemically neutral
2
a
: to counteract the activity or effect of : make ineffective
propaganda that is difficult to neutralize
b
: kill, destroy
3
: to make electrically inert by combining equal positive and negative quantities
4
: to invest (a territory, a nation, etc.) with conventional or obligatory neutrality conferring inviolability during a war
5
: to make neutral by blending with the complementary color
6
: to give (a pair of phonemes) a nondistinctive form or pronunciation
t and d are neutralized when pronounced as flaps

Notice that the "kill" definition is not the primary one and is one of many alternatives.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

1 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Wednesdays

9 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Political sign in North Creek sparks debate over free speech -- The Adirondack Explorer [View all] erronis Wednesday OP

Good Grief UpInArms Wednesday #1

They should call t-rump a lying, Doo Doo, poopy head on that sign... wcmagumba Wednesday #2

It's bad enough they're such snowflake, but they're so stupid Walleye Wednesday #3

Snowflakes. He didn't say exterminate or eradicate. 58Sunliner Wednesday #4

Instead of "neutralize" the sign should say "neuter" DBoon Wednesday #5

While "neuter" may be a fun operation to perform (if you can find it/them), "neutralize is just fine. erronis Wednesday #6

I've owned four dogs DBoon Wednesday #9

More (White) Victimhood modrepub Wednesday #7

Isn't it a shame that half of all Americans don't know that words have definite meanings. sinkingfeeling Wednesday #8