deactivate
verb
de·ac·ti·vate
(ˌ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 
deactivated; deactivating; deactivates
: to make inactive or ineffective
deactivate a bomb
deactivate a chemical compound
Examples of deactivate in a Sentence
deactivate the machine carefully, or you'll risk an electric shock
Recent Examples on the Web
There does not seem to be any political momentum to remove, deactivate or severely limit the devices, unlike in neighboring cities like Mountain View, Santa Cruz, and jurisdictions under the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, following revelations of unauthorized federal access.
—
Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
An Amber Alert has been deactivated after a Southern California 3-year-old was located on Tuesday morning.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2026
However, Microsoft’s partner portal website mysteriously said his account had been deactivated, without specifying why.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deactivate
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Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
An Amber Alert has been deactivated after a Southern California 3-year-old was located on Tuesday morning.
—Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2026
However, Microsoft’s partner portal website mysteriously said his account had been deactivated, without specifying why.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deactivate
Cite this Entry
“Deactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deactivate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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Medical Definition
deactivate
transitive verb
de·ac·ti·vate
(ˈ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt
deactivated; deactivating
1
: to make inactive or ineffective
2
: to deprive of chemical activity
deactivate an enzyme
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