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
- deflator noun
- self-deflated adjective
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.
As the capsule splashes down, the parachutes will instantaneously deflate when the risers are severed ... and we'll see the parachutes fall into the ocean.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
It was reminiscent of Roger Federer at his best, able to relieve pressure and deflate opponents by serving his way out of trouble.
From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026
“The great hurt and fear for folks that steward the farmworker movement now is that this news will deflate the struggle that is so essential and is so hard,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
“Undertone” is packed with plenty of similarly ridiculous plot points that deflate if you even so much as toss a withering glance their way.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026
But it stopped after just one ring, and she seemed to deflate.
From "Kira-Kira" by Cynthia Kadohata
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.
