neutralization

/ˌnutrələˈzeɪʃən/

To neutralize something means to make it neutral or harmless. Neutralization is the name of this process. If you help defuse a bomb, you contribute to its neutralization.

If you are a criminal mastermind, and a police detective appears to be amassing the evidence needed to convict you of your crimes, you can neutralize the threat he poses by having him killed. Following his neutralization, you can continue on your evil way.

Definitions of neutralization

1. noun

   action intended to nullify the effects of some previous action
   synonyms: counteraction, neutralisation

   type of:

   nullification, override

   the act of nullifying; making null and void; counteracting or overriding the effect or force of something
2. noun

   action intended to keep a country politically neutral or exclude it from a possible war
   “the neutralization of Belgium”

   synonyms: neutralisation

   type of:

   nullification, override

   the act of nullifying; making null and void; counteracting or overriding the effect or force of something
3. noun

   (euphemism) the removal of a threat by killing or destroying it (especially in a covert operation or military operation)
   synonyms: neutralisation

   type of:

   destruction, devastation

   the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists
4. noun

   a chemical reaction in which an acid and a base interact with the formation of a salt; with strong acids and bases the essential reaction is the combination of hydrogen ions with hydroxyl ions to form water
   synonyms: neutralisation, neutralisation reaction, neutralization reaction

   type of:

   chemical reaction, reaction

   (chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others