deflate
Americanverb (used with object)
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to release the air or gas from (something inflated, as a balloon).
They deflated the tires slightly to allow the truck to drive under the overpass.
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to depress or reduce (a person or a person's ego, hopes, spirits, etc.); puncture; dash.
Her rebuff thoroughly deflated me.
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to reduce (currency, prices, etc.) from an inflated condition; to affect with deflation.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to collapse or cause to collapse through the release of gas
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(tr) to take away the self-esteem or conceit from
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economics to cause deflation of (an economy, the money supply, etc)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of deflate
1890–95; < Latin dēflātus blown off, away (past participle of dēflāre ), equivalent to dē- de- + fl ( āre ) to blow + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
To deflate is to let the air out of something. If you deflate the tires on your brother's bike, he won't be able to ride it until he gets them pumped up again. You can deflate anything that's full of air or another gas: an air mattress, an inflatable sled, a helium balloon, or the tires on your car. When something, like a hot air balloon, empties of air, you can also say it deflates. Figuratively, a person can also deflate when they are suddenly drained of self-assurance or cheer: "Hearing him criticize me in front of the class made me deflate."
Vocabulary lists containing deflate
Fish in a Tree
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Everything, Everything
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Night of the Spadefoot Toads
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Deflate your giant Santas and unplug those twinkly holiday lights: The Santa Ana winds are coming to town.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2017
Deflate Foxboro Egos: Message preprinted at the top of Roger Goodell’s daily planner since January 2015.
From Washington Post • Aug. 24, 2017
In his notes, Goldberg gives evidence of the usage in a text message between the two men: "Deflate and give somebody that jacket," McNally texts to Jastremski.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2015
If not for the presence of Bill Belichick, following the twists and turns of The Great Deflate would be as interesting as dissecting the anatomy of a hangnail.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 27, 2015
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
