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Inactive vs Disable - What's the difference?

inactive | disable |

As adjectives the difference between inactive and disable

is that inactive is not active, temporarily or permanently while disable is lacking ability; unable.

As a verb disable is

to render unable; to take away an ability of.

inactive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Not active, temporarily or permanently
    • The volcano is inactive , but is only dormant.
  • Not functioning or operating; broken down
    • The photocopier is inactive pending repair.
  • Retired from duty or service
    • Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list.
  • (chemistry) Relatively inert
    • Aluminium is inactive towards water.
  • (physics) Showing no optical activity in polarized light
    • Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form.

    Derived terms

    * inactively * inactivity

    Synonyms

    * (not active) dull, dormant * (not functioning or operating) idle

    Antonyms

    * (not active) active

    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

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