as in kills
to cause to stop functioning
deactivate the machine carefully, or you'll risk an electric shock
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Recent Examples of deactivates
This higher temperature darkens the paste, slightly caramelizes the sugar, and deactivates enzymes that would otherwise break down pectin, resulting in a thicker, more cooked-tasting product.
—
Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
The heat from the water also deactivates enzymes that break down pigments.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
The heat from the water also deactivates enzymes that break down pigments.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deactivates
kills
Verb
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Early-morning strike kills 11, including two children Israeli troops fired on a building in the Tuffah neighborhood in northern Gaza, killing at least 11 people, most from the same family, said Shifa Hospital, which received the bodies.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
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Small plane crash in Colombia kills 15 BOGOTA, Colombia -- A small plane crashed Wednesday in a rural area of Norte de Santander province in northeast Colombia, killing all 15 people on board including a member of congress, authorities said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deactivates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deactivates. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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