1
a
: of, relating to, or constituting the gender that ordinarily includes most words or grammatical forms referring to things classed as neither masculine nor feminine
b
: neither active nor passive : intransitive
2
: taking no side : neutral
3
: lacking or having imperfectly developed or nonfunctional generative organs
1
a
: a noun, pronoun, adjective, or inflectional form or class of the neuter gender
b
: the neuter gender
2
: one that is neutral
3
a
b
: a spayed or castrated animal
neutered; neutering; neuters
2
: to remove the force or effectiveness of (someone or something)
Democrats say those changes would effectively neuter the bureau and hand the financial industry yet another victory over the little guy.—
Michael Crowley
Michael CrowleyExamples of neuter in a Sentence
Adjective
The pronoun “it” is neuter.
Verb
She had her dog neutered by the veterinarian.
The bill was neutered by the changes made by the legislature.
Recent Examples on the Web
Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
Others praised the owners’ philanthropic support of local causes, including a pet spay and neuter program.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 25 Oct. 2024
Even more crucial, the narrative’s creamy charm neuters the greater matters that the movie evokes: crises of faith.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024
Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neuter
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Adjective
Paws for a Cause offers discounts on spay, neuter surgeries
Paws for a Cause Vet Care in Naperville is offering 25% off spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats through the end of February.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025
Others praised the owners’ philanthropic support of local causes, including a pet spay and neuter program.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
Noun
There are even brackets for spays/neuters as well as household pets and moggies (a mixed-breed cat).
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 25 Oct. 2024
Even more crucial, the narrative’s creamy charm neuters the greater matters that the movie evokes: crises of faith.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
But in turn, that move may have also neutered the team’s biggest strength: its high-octane offense.
—Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for neuter
Cite this Entry
“Neuter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neuter. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
neuter
1 of 3 adjective
neu·ter
ˈn(y)üt-ər 
1
: relating to or being the class of words that ordinarily includes most of those referring to things that are neither male nor female
a neuter noun
the neuter gender
2
: lacking sex organs
also
: having imperfectly developed sex organs
neuter
2 of 3 noun1
a
: a word or form of the neuter gender
b
: the neuter gender
2
neuter
3 of 3 verbMedical Definition
neuter
1 of 2 noun
neu·ter
ˈn(y)üt-ər
: a spayed or castrated animal (as a cat)
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