deflate

American  

[dih-fleyt] / dɪˈfleɪt /

verb (used with object)

deflated, deflating

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.

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verb (used without object)

deflated, deflating

1. to become deflated.

deflate British  

/ 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)

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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

Detractors say the law would slow development and deflate property values.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the 1990s, Canadian economist Patrick Grady deflated support for independence with calculations showing that by leaving, “Quebec would be much harder hit than the rest of Canada.”

From The Wall Street Journal

When she slams the window shut and tugs the curtains back together, my body deflates.

From Literature

When she sighed, she deflated like a party balloon.

From Literature

Nepal's players completed a lap of honour in front of their deflated supporters at the end.

From BBC

Related Words

• depress
• diminish
• exhaust