deflate
verb
de·flate di-ˈflāt 
ˌdē-
ˌdē- deflated; deflating
transitive verb
1
: to release air or gas from
deflate a tire
2
: to reduce in size, importance, or effectiveness
deflate his ego with cutting remarks
3
: to reduce (a price level) or cause (a volume of credit) to contract
intransitive verb
: to lose firmness through or as if through the escape of contained gas
deflator noun
or less commonly deflater
di-ˈflā-tər
ˌdē-
Example Sentences
The birthday balloons deflated after a few days. The harsh criticism left him utterly deflated. an insult that would deflate their egos He has worked to deflate popular myths about investing. Deflated prices mean that farmers are getting less for their products.
Recent Examples on the Web Sheehan and his colleagues leverage their media savvy in traditional ways, such as the video of Hernandez’s apartment, and by deploying comedy to deflate the pomp and hypocrisy around the games. 
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
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
Etymology
de- + -flate (as in inflate)
First Known Use
1891, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
deflate
verb
de·flate di-ˈflāt
deflated; deflating
1
: to let the air or gas out of something that has been blown up
2
: to reduce in size or importance
The criticism deflated her confidence.
deflating
verb
1
as in collapsing
to become smaller in size or volume due to loss of contents We kept her birthday decorations up until the balloons started deflating. Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- collapsing
- dripping
- compressing
- flattening
- leaking
- shrinking
- contracting
- condensing
- shriveling
- constricting
- shrivelling
- wilting
- decreasing
- seeping
- diminishing
- withering
- trickling
- withdrawing
- oozing
- drying up
- mummifying
- retreating
- dwindling
- lessening
- receding
- wizening
- abating
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inflating
- puffing (up)
- swelling
- increasing
- ballooning
- expanding
- dilating
- growing
- blowing up
- distending
- accumulating
- bulking
- snowballing
- mushrooming
2
as in emptying
to make smaller in size or volume by removing the contents Please deflate the air mattress and fold it up before you leave. Synonyms & Similar Words
- emptying
- draining
- pumping
- evacuating
- clearing
- cleaning
- collapsing
- flattening
- exhausting
- sucking
- tapping
- puncturing
- compressing
- flushing
- bleeding
- siphoning
- drafting
- milking
- voiding
- depleting
- purging
- punching
- squeezing
- drilling
- vacating
- splitting
- vacuating
- cutting
- syphoning
- boring
- penetrating
- shrinking
- effusing
- piercing
- poking
- holing
- breaking
- riddling
- perforating
- rupturing
- decanting
- pricking
- gouging
- compacting
- slashing
- excavating
- broaching
- prickling
- contracting
- hollowing
- condensing
- rending
- drawing (off)
- constricting
- grooving
- telescoping
- gashing
- slitting
- notching
- constringing
- capsulizing
- capsuling
- narrowing (down)
- burrowing (into)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- filling
- inflating
- swelling
- dilating
- sealing
- blowing up
- distending
- plugging
- patching
3
as in declining
to make or become lower in amount or value The excess supply deflated prices. The company's stock has deflated. Synonyms & Similar Words
- declining
- reducing
- plunging
- decreasing
- falling
- dipping
- dropping
- tumbling
- sinking
- plummeting
- depressing
- retreating
- lowering
- crashing
- devaluing
- skidding
- cratering
- descending
- diving
- diminishing
- devaluating
- attenuating
- cheapening
- depreciating
- subsiding
- downgrading
- drooping
- nose-diving
- lessening
- dwindling
- ebbing
- moderating
- waning
- writing down
- writing off
- marking down
- receding
- breaking
- debasing
- tapering off
- abating
- de-escalating
- undervaluing
- dying (down)
- underestimating
- letting up
- underrating
- demonetizing
- underpricing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- increasing
- growing
- swelling
- expanding
- escalating
- accumulating
- building
- intensifying
- enlarging
- burgeoning
- rising
- mushrooming
- ballooning
- mounting
- lifting
- ascending
- waxing
- snowballing
- soaring
- arising
- spiking
- picking up
- bourgeoning
- enhancing
- appreciating
- upgrading
- upping
- marking up
4
as in undermining
to cause to lose force or effectiveness Her cutting remark deflated his ego. The lawsuit deflated their hopes for a quick resolution. Synonyms & Similar Words
- undermining
- weakening
- debilitating
- dispiriting
- disheartening
- discouraging
- weighing
- frustrating
- enfeebling
- deadening
- demoralizing
- intimidating
- depressing
- unnerving
- daunting
- dampening
- browbeating
- dismaying
- scaring
- frightening
- damping
- saddening
- cowing
- distressing
- chilling
- troubling
- throwing cold water on
- horrifying
- unmanning
- afflicting
- bullying
- worrying
- trying
- vexing
- irking
- bothering
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reinforcing
- strengthening
- enforcing
- encouraging
- fortifying
- invigorating
- reenforcing
- enlivening
- stimulating
- reassuring
- lifting
- exciting
- cheering
- emboldening
- animating
- energizing
- boosting
- stirring
- provoking
- assuring
- rallying
- galvanizing
- nerving
- inspiring
- heartening
- quickening
- steeling
- gladdening
- buoying (up)