Inactivate vs. Deactivate

Inactivateverb

To make inactive.

Deactivateverb

(ergative) to make something inactive or no longer effective

Inactivateverb

to make inactive; as, boiling will inactivate most enzymes; acetylation of the antibiotic inactivated it.

Deactivateverb

to prevent the action of a biochemical agent (such as an enzyme)

Inactivateverb

release from military service or remove from the active list of military service

Deactivateverb

to remove a person or piece of hardware from active military service

Inactivateverb

make inactive;

‘they deactivated the file’;

Deactivateverb

To make inactive; to render ineffective; as, to deactivate a bomb; to deactivate a machine; to deactivate the alarm.

Inactivateverb

make inactive or inoperative

‘household bleach does not inactivate the virus’;

Deactivateverb

To disband (a military unit, or other group); to discontinue (a group activity); as, to deactivate the regiment; to deactivate the investigation.

Deactivateverb

remove from active military status or reassign;

‘The men were deactivated after five years of service’;

Deactivateverb

make inactive;

‘they deactivated the file’;

Deactivateverb

make (something) inactive by disconnecting or destroying it

‘the switch deactivates the alarm’;

Deactivateverb

remove from active duty.