Except no one normally says that. Also inactivate connotates it can be reactivated, destroy would probably be the better word for something not considered alive

Except no one normally says that. Also inactivate connotates it can be reactivated, destroy would probably be the better word for something not considered alive at least for lay people. I know some people worry inactive viruses in vaccines can reactivate and infect you. Then again most people will just say kill since the same agents that kill bacteria and other fully agreed upon microscopic life forms tend to work similarly on viruses.