different between defuse vs neutralize

English

Etymology 1

de- +? fuse

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /di??fju?z/
• Rhymes: -u?z

Verb

defuse (third-person singular simple present defuses, present participle defusing, simple past and past participle defused)

1. (transitive) To remove the fuse from (a bomb, etc.).
2. (transitive) To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile.

   to defuse a hostage situation

Usage notes

The words defuse and diffuse are sometimes confused.

Related terms

• defusion
• defusive
• defuze

Translations

Etymology 2

Compare diffuse.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??fju?z/
• Rhymes: -u?z
• Homophones: diffuse

Verb

defuse (third-person singular simple present defuses, present participle defusing, simple past and past participle defused)

1. (obsolete) To disorder; to make shapeless.
   • 1605, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King Lear, I. iv. 2:

     If but as well I other accents borrow / That can my speech defuse,

English

Alternative forms

• neutralise (non-Oxford British spelling)

Etymology

From French neutraliser. Surface etymology is neutral +? -ize.

Verb

neutralize (third-person singular simple present neutralizes, present participle neutralizing, simple past and past participle neutralized)

1. (transitive) To make even, inactive or ineffective.

2. (transitive) To make (a territory, etc.) politically neutral.
   • 1965, United States. Congress. Senate, Hearings (volume 1, page 77)
3. (transitive, chemistry) To make (an acidic or alkaline substance) chemically neutral.

   • All the powers involved are committed not only to stay out of a given territory, but also to reenter it if any one of them violates the independence of the neutralized country.

4. (transitive, military, euphemistic) To kill.

Synonyms

• counteract
• counterweigh

Related terms

• neutralization

Translations

Portuguese

Verb

neutralize

1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of neutralizar
2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of neutralizar
3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of neutralizar
4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of neutralizar