NYT Dictionary

DEACTIVATE

/ˌdiːˈæktɪveɪt/
Verbde-AC-ti-vatede-ac-ti-vate · 4 syllablesGrade 7

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2024

Meaning

to make something inactive or no longer effective

Etymology

Origin: Middle English

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvusbor. Old French actifbor. Middle English actyf English active Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English activate English deactivate From de- + activate.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

inactivatedebriefdecommissiondemilitarizedemobdemobilizedetachdisarmdisbanddischarge

Antonyms

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle, including a pangram:

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