deflate
verb
ˌdē- transitive verb
intransitive verb
Example Sentences
Lauren Lee White, The New Republic, 19 Aug. 2022 When the oven is too hot, the meringue will expand quickly and then deflate quickly upon cooling. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 17 June 2022 After shrugging off Whyte’s attempt to confuse him by turning southpaw in the first round, Fury relied on his smarts, movement and activity to deflate the challenger as Whyte averaged less than five landed punches per round. Lance Pugmire, USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2022 The chip world saw a rare nanometer showdown in 2015, which helped deflate the value of the number labels. Jiyoung Sohn, WSJ, 28 July 2022 Stir a dollop of whites into the yolks to lighten them, then carefully but thoroughly fold the yolk mixture into the whites, taking care not to deflate them. Carol Deptolla, Journal Sentinel, 27 July 2022 Police followed the car around Los Angeles before using spike strips to deflate the tires. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 31 July 2022 Knead only once or twice to fold in ingredients; be careful not to overmix and deflate the dough. Kim Sunée, Anchorage Daily News, 22 July 2022 Her Valkyrie, alas, receives less screen time than Jane, who’s given a crisis as well as special powers, a blond blowout and muscles that inflate and deflate like party balloons. New York Times, 7 July 2022 See More Word History
de- + -flate (as in inflate)
1891, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
deflate
verb
deflate
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- collapse
- compress
- flatten
- drip
- shrink
- leak
- shrivel
- constrict
- condense
- dry up
- decrease
- seep
- contract
- diminish
- wilt
- wither
- trickle
- mummify
- withdraw
- ooze
- dwindle
- recede
- lessen
- wizen
- retreat
- abate
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inflate
- bulk
- dilate
- increase
- expand
- blow up
- swell
- balloon
- puff (up)
- grow
- distend
- accumulate
- snowball
- mushroom
Synonyms & Similar Words
- empty
- pump
- drain
- evacuate
- clear
- flatten
- clean
- suck
- collapse
- compress
- puncture
- tap
- flush
- exhaust
- void
- bleed
- siphon
- purge
- pierce
- split
- vacate
- deplete
- draft
- milk
- squeeze
- vacuate
- drill
- cut
- punch
- shrink
- effuse
- penetrate
- hole
- perforate
- break
- bore
- syphon
- poke
- rupture
- prick
- decant
- hollow
- draw (off)
- excavate
- compact
- prickle
- slash
- riddle
- broach
- gouge
- constrict
- rend
- condense
- notch
- slit
- contract
- gash
- groove
- capsule
- capsulize
- telescope
- constringe
- narrow (down)
- burrow (into)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- fill
- inflate
- swell
- dilate
- patch
- blow up
- seal
- distend
- plug
Synonyms & Similar Words
- reduce
- decline
- decrease
- plunge
- fall
- dip
- drop
- tumble
- plummet
- lower
- diminish
- devalue
- depress
- sink
- crash
- attenuate
- dive
- subside
- descend
- retreat
- cheapen
- skid
- depreciate
- devaluate
- crater
- droop
- downgrade
- abate
- write down
- lessen
- dwindle
- moderate
- mark down
- write off
- recede
- wane
- nose-dive
- ebb
- taper off
- break
- debase
- die (down)
- de-escalate
- underestimate
- let up
- undervalue
- underrate
- demonetize
- underprice
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- increase
- swell
- build
- expand
- grow
- intensify
- escalate
- balloon
- accumulate
- rise
- enlarge
- lift
- arise
- snowball
- soar
- mount
- wax
- ascend
- mushroom
- pick up
- enhance
- burgeon
- spike
- bourgeon
- appreciate
- up
- upgrade
- mark up
Synonyms & Similar Words
- undermine
- weaken
- debilitate
- weigh
- enfeeble
- frustrate
- dampen
- dishearten
- discourage
- intimidate
- dispirit
- browbeat
- scare
- deaden
- daunt
- unnerve
- depress
- throw cold water on
- frighten
- demoralize
- damp
- chill
- dismay
- try
- unman
- afflict
- trouble
- sadden
- cow
- bully
- distress
- worry
- horrify
- irk
- vex
- bother
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reinforce
- strengthen
- enforce
- encourage
- fortify
- nerve
- stimulate
- steel
- enliven
- reenforce
- lift
- cheer
- animate
- provoke
- assure
- embolden
- invigorate
- hearten
- inspire
- reassure
- boost
- energize
- stir
- excite
- quicken
- rally
- buoy (up)
- galvanize
- gladden
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of deflate are compress, condense, constrict, contract, and shrink. While all these words mean "to decrease in bulk or volume," deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas.
The words compress and deflate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance.
While in some cases nearly identical to deflate, condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content.
In some situations, the words constrict and deflate are roughly equivalent. However, constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter.
The meanings of contract and deflate largely overlap; however, contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length.
The words shrink and deflate can be used in similar contexts, but shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.