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Disable vs Inactivate - What's the difference?

disable | inactivate |

As verbs the difference between disable and inactivate

is that disable is to render unable; to take away an ability of while inactivate is to make inactive.

As an adjective disable

is (obsolete) lacking ability; unable.

disable

English

Verb

(disabl)
  • To render unable; to take away an ability of.
  • (chiefly, of a person) To impair the physical or mental abilities of; to cause a serious, permanent injury.
  • Falling off the horse disabled him.
  • to deactivate a function of an electronical or mechanical device.
  • The pilot had to disable the autopilot of his airplane.

    Antonyms

    * enable

    Derived terms

    * disablement

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Lacking ability; unable.
  • * Daniel
  • Our disable and unactive force.

    Anagrams

    *

    inactivate

    English

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To make inactive.
  • References

    "'Computer inactivated, Crawford reported. 'I get nothing at all.'" - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, ''The Mote in God's Eye , 1974

    Anagrams

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