The term 'render harmless, in a way' can be solved by four six-letter words: dehorn, defang, declaw, and unarm. Dehorning is the process of removing the horns from an animal, usually done to prevent injury to other animals or people. Defanging is the removal of the fangs from a venomous animal, such as a snake, to reduce its ability to bite and inject venom. Declawing is the removal of the claws from an animal, usually done to prevent damage to furniture or people. Unarming is the removal of weapons from a person or group, usually done to reduce the risk of violence. All four of these processes are ways to render something harmless.