deflate

[ dih-fleyt ]

verb (used with object)

, de·flat·ed, de·flat·ing.

1. 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.

2. to depress or reduce (a person or a person's ego, hopes, spirits, etc.); puncture; dash:

   Her rebuff thoroughly deflated me.

3. to reduce (currency, prices, etc.) from an inflated condition; to affect with deflation.

verb (used without object)

, de·flat·ed, de·flat·ing.

1. to become deflated.

deflate

/ dɪˈfleɪt /

verb

1. to collapse or cause to collapse through the release of gas
2. tr to take away the self-esteem or conceit from
3. economics to cause deflation of (an economy, the money supply, etc)

Derived Forms

• deˈflator, noun

Other Words From

• de·flator noun
• self-de·flated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of deflate¹

1890–95; < Latin dēflātus blown off, away (past participle of dēflāre ), equivalent to dē- de- + fl ( āre ) to blow + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of deflate¹

C19: from de- + ( in ) flate

Example Sentences

Having read the script, Schmidt suggested this story was really about hope — and then watched the director visibly deflate.

From Los Angeles Times

To overcome that limitation, MIT engineers have designed a new type of gastric balloon that can be inflated and deflated as needed.

From Science Daily

Neuroscientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla have identified a brain pathway that instantly deflates anxiety.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump’s allies say immigrants have deflated U.S. wages and drained government resources, but some experts have warned that mass deportations could weaken the U.S. economy.

From Los Angeles Times

She’s angry and deflated at the city’s aggressive move to label homelessness a crime.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• depress
• diminish
• exhaust