to deactivate

Examples

• All

• In 2002, the Domestic Intelligence Agency deactivated several informers.

  CompleX (2021)

• If that's the case, we need to implement a system to immediately deactivate an agent's code...

  Fiction book (1996)

• I could have put the app back on my phone, but I did the third option I got, I deactivated my account.

• I deactivated your explosives while you two were busy.

  Soul Hunters (2019)

• National support said our account had been deactivated, and that I'd need to speak to a local support desk.

  Blog text (19)

• All Romney campaign credit cards were deactivated at 9 PM.

  Blog text (15)

• Enter the cage, defeat Sledgesaw in under 90 seconds, deactivate the bomb, free the civilians.

  All Superheroes Must Die (2011)

• The protective detail for Mr. Cain was deactivated following the candidate's withdrawal from the campaign in early December 2011.

  Blog text (13)

• For example, in March 2014, a single mother living in Las Vegas could not take her ten-year-old asthmatic daughter, who had a 103.5-degree fever, to the emergency room because a subprime auto lender remotely deactivated her car after she fell only three days behind on her monthly car payment.

  Academic text (2016)

• The technician had to deactivate the security system before entering the building.

Synonyms

D

to discharge

vsto deactivate

• Formal

110 4.4

Officially release someone from a duty, job, or responsibility

is specific to removing from active service, especially in military contexts

D

to decommission

vsto deactivate

• Formal

28 6.5

To officially take a ship, factory, or machine out of use

applies more widely to removing people or things from active service

D

to demobilize

vsto deactivate

• Specialized

4 7.5

To release soldiers from military service and return them to civilian life

covers removal from active service not only postwar return to civilians

M

to muster out

vsto deactivate

• Jargon

1 7.2

Officially let a member of the military leave after their service ends

is about removing from active service for many reasons, not only term end

D

to demob

vsto deactivate

• Archaic

1 9.1

To release someone from the military after their service

is the broader term for ending active service beyond regional usage

I

to inactivate

vsto deactivate

• Formal

1 7.2

To officially take a person or unit out of military service

is removing from active service across military or other official contexts

U

to unmobilize

vsto deactivate

• Specialized

8.1

To send soldiers, teams, and equipment home and stop military or emergency activity

focuses on stopping mobilization rather than general removal from active service

Antonyms

A

to activate

418 3.6

To make a machine, system, or account start working

Phrasal Verbs

D

to deactivate alarm

1 3.2

To turn an alarm off so it does not sound

How Active

to activate

418 3.6

to decommission

• Formal

28 6.5

to deactivate

• Formal

3 4.3

to suspend

228 3.9

to stand down

143 5.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology