inactivate
Switch off completely
To inactivate something is to make it inactive—to stop it from functioning or having effect.
The term appears most often in scientific contexts: a virus can be inactivated by heat, an enzyme by chemical treatment, a gene by mutation.
The vaccine contains inactivated virus.
Outside technical use, deactivate is more common.
Protein that hastens reactions
- antibodyProtein targeting foreign substances
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- geneHereditary information unit
- silenceTotal lack of sound
inhibitor · inhibition · knockout · suppress · block · repress · quench · denature
To diminish or damage
- crippleSeverely impair function
- paralyzeCause loss of movement
- debilitateTo make weak
- weakenReduce in strength
incapacitate · neutralize · disarm · render · hamper · obstruct · disrupt · shut down
Delay in system response
- quiescenceState of being inactive
- hibernationProlonged winter dormancy
- torporInactive, sluggish state
- stasisState of inactivity
abeyance · suspension · standby · rest · inertia · pause · standstill · hiatus
No longer in effect
- contaminatedMade impure by contact
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
- defectiveHaving inherent faults
- nonfunctionalNot performing its purpose
obsolete · spoiled · unserviceable · decommissioned · retired · invalidated · voided · cancelled
enzyme
Protein that hastens reactions
- antibodyProtein targeting foreign substances
- neutralizeCancel an effect
- geneHereditary information unit
silence · inhibitor · inhibition · knockout · suppress · block · repress · quench · denature · receptor
impair
To diminish or damage
- crippleSeverely impair function
- paralyzeCause loss of movement
- debilitateTo make weak
weaken · incapacitate · neutralize · disarm · render · hamper · obstruct · disrupt · shut down · switch off
latency
Delay in system response
- quiescenceState of being inactive
- hibernationProlonged winter dormancy
- torporInactive, sluggish state
stasis · abeyance · suspension · standby · rest · inertia · pause · standstill · hiatus · hold
expired
No longer in effect
- contaminatedMade impure by contact
- degradedReduced in rank or quality
- defectiveHaving inherent faults
nonfunctional · obsolete · spoiled · unserviceable · decommissioned · retired · invalidated · voided · cancelled · revoked
inactivateactivate
Cause to function
reactivate · enable · switch on · turn on · energize
inactivateactivate
Cause to function
stimulate · potentiate · catalyze · induce · express
inactivateactivate
Cause to function
mobilize · mobilise · commission · deploy · reactivate