Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb deactivate

2 senses of deactivate

Sense 1
deactivate -- (remove from active military status or reassign; "The men were deactivated after five years of service")
       => discharge, muster out -- (release from military service)

Sense 2
inactivate, deactivate -- (make inactive; "they deactivated the file")
       => change, alter, modify -- (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue")