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
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.
The move had an “overwhelming deflating effect on morale,” he said.
From Salon
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
In December, 17 migrants were found dead inside their boat, which was taking on water and had partially deflated, to the southwest of Crete.
From Barron's
It’s a buzzy yet ambiguous term, and its very lack of definition means it might already appear deflated, depending on the metrics used to evaluate it.
From Barron's
The longer it takes for supply to return, the longer it will take oil prices to deflate from current levels.
From Barron's
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.
