as in to kill
to cause to stop functioning
deactivate the machine carefully, or you'll risk an electric shock
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Recent Examples of deactivate
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.
—
Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
More research is needed to learn how polyphenols deactivate viruses and how this may be used in pharmaceuticals or therapeutics.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025
However, browser memories can be deactivated for specific websites.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
The Kansas Young Republicans organization was deactivated on Tuesday following an investigation by Politico into a trove of racist and derogatory messages exchanged in a group chat between young GOP members in four states.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deactivate
Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2025
More research is needed to learn how polyphenols deactivate viruses and how this may be used in pharmaceuticals or therapeutics.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025
However, browser memories can be deactivated for specific websites.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
The Kansas Young Republicans organization was deactivated on Tuesday following an investigation by Politico into a trove of racist and derogatory messages exchanged in a group chat between young GOP members in four states.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deactivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deactivate
Verb
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Over the course of four months in 1956-57, Israeli forces killed as many as 1,500 Palestinians in Gaza.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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Listeria infects about 1,250 people in the United States each year, according to the CDC, and kills about 172.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The Nampa woman, Alyssa VanPaepeghem, braked, but the cars still crashed.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
22 Oct. 2025
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Buses are larger, less capable of swerving, and take longer to brake, but bus drivers are also far more likely to drive cautiously and avoid speeding, said Toronto.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Greater Cincinnati Water Works will not shut off water for customers who don't pay their bills – if those customers have been furloughed from federal jobs or denied SNAP benefits.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
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Liz Marx, director of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project, worries about families whose utility service is currently shut off who are counting on LIHEAP to restore services.—
NPR,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deactivate. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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