deactivate

verb

(ˌ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce deactivate (audio)
Definition of deactivatenext
as in to kill
to cause to stop functioning deactivate the machine carefully, or you'll risk an electric shock

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deactivate City officials say there was ShotSpotter coverage in the area where Bautista was found, but the system was deactivated earlier this year. — CBS News, 13 July 2026 The government initially reported more than 5 million children had accounts removed, deactivated or restricted after the ban became law. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 Remember, millions of social media accounts were deactivated. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 To prevent the organs from being rejected by their new human hosts, Revivicor deactivated a gene that codes for the enzyme that creates the alpha-gal molecule. — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for deactivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deactivate
  1. kill
  2. brake
  3. shut off
Verb
  • Lindsay Clancy’s lawyers don’t dispute that the former labor and delivery nurse killed the children.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Did the dragon scale that Aegon took and later killed a man with use some kind of blood magic to resurrect the dragon?
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of kill
Verb
  • Prosecutors said Huerta tried to brake-check officers and even put the tow truck in reverse and drove toward officers at one point.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • Ram will even sell you a 392 Track Pack, which adds better aero, handling, and braking for $82,790 total.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 29 July 2026
Definition of brake
Verb
  • There is a click at the end of pumping that signals the nozzle shutting off.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Look below the driver-side dashboard Park the vehicle and shut off the engine.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of shut off

Browse Nearby Words

deacons
deactivate
deactivated
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Cite this Entry

“Deactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deactivate. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deactivate

Nglish: Translation of deactivate for Spanish Speakers

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