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
During the ban, the person's SmarTrip card will be deactivated and they'll be arrested if found on Metro property.
—
Anna Spiegel, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025
Soon afterward, some online noted that the band’s X account had been deactivated and assumed — incorrectly — it was tied to Casey’s criticism of President Trump and his co-president, X commandant Elon Musk.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
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, 15 Mar. 2025
The post has since been deleted and the NFL player's account appears to be deactivated.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deactivate
Anna Spiegel, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025
Soon afterward, some online noted that the band’s X account had been deactivated and assumed — incorrectly — it was tied to Casey’s criticism of President Trump and his co-president, X commandant Elon Musk.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
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, 15 Mar. 2025
The post has since been deleted and the NFL player's account appears to be deactivated.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deactivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deactivate
Verb
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Renee Moore worked near the building and relied on its daycare for her 6-month-old son Antonio Cooper Jr., who was among those killed.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Of the four victims who were killed, two were teachers and two were students.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And day or night travel is catered for too, courtesy of a 100-lux headlight, plus a braking tail-light integrated into the full alloy fender to the rear.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2025
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This is used to issue steering and braking instructions to the ECU.—
Sabbir Rangwala,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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All power has been shut off in the area, along with the gas valves on either side of the broken gas line, Hopkins said.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2025
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But now that Trump is shutting off funding, or at least threatening to, at sixty schools, Harvard’s endowment has taken on a new purpose, positioning the school to be the first bulwark against a rapidly advancing front.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deactivate. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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