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
The hate got so bad that Corrin deactivated their Instagram account for a year and has just come back on the platform.
—
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 May 2026
To deactivate the alarm, simply put the top pin back in.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
Prosecutors say that Cunningham additionally contacted his wireless carrier to ask that his phone be deactivated, changed his number, and gave his car to his niece, creating a months-long delay for police to find and search the vehicle.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 28 May 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, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deactivate
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 31 May 2026
To deactivate the alarm, simply put the top pin back in.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
Prosecutors say that Cunningham additionally contacted his wireless carrier to ask that his phone be deactivated, changed his number, and gave his car to his niece, creating a months-long delay for police to find and search the vehicle.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 28 May 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, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deactivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deactivate
Verb
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The office said on July 14, 2022, without lawful justification and with intent to kill, Quinones-Herstad stabbed Gonzalez-Alarcon, 55, multiple times with a knife, killing her.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
11 Dec. 2025
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Then in 1999, alleging that related terrorist bombings had continued, Russia again invaded in a second war that would flatten capital city Grozny and kill thousands more people.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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If the rear control arm or lower arm mounting points break, the rear wheels could become misaligned or inadequately retained, adversely affecting vehicle handling, stability and braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash or injury.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
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The driver of a Ford Escape steered to the right and braked hard but was unable to avoid a collision with the Kia in the right shoulder and right lane area of the highway, according to the warrant affidavit.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
9 June 2026
Verb
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Middle Eastern oil wells were largely shut off during the war.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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But by April, a high pressure system plopped itself on Central Florida and the rainy weather came to a sudden halt, as if a faucet had suddenly been shut off.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deactivate. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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