deflate

[dih-fleyt]

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.

verb (used without object)

deflated, deflating 

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)

Other Word Forms

• deflator noun
• self-deflated 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

Kramer warns that if the team doesn’t deflate fast enough, the next balloon in the lineup “will just walk right over the top of us.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Saudi Arabia is also pulling back on its government spending, with deflated oil prices forcing it to downsize many of its gigaprojects, Callen added.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Tano almost visibly deflates, as if he’s been caught with his hand in a cookie jar.

Read more on Literature

“It looks like a soufflé that has begun to deflate. Oh, now I am desperately craving a soufflé for lunch! I know we just had breakfast, but I am eating for two, after all.”

Read more on Literature

His two drop-goals, deflating New Zealand's lead just before half-time, changed the complexion of the contest.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• depress 
• diminish 
• exhaust