deflate
verb (used with object)
to release the air or gas from (something inflated, as a balloon).
deflating
-
present participleof deflate.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
His premiership, in the eyes of many on his own side, has been deflating for months.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
Tighter monetary policy was also a factor around the deflating of the dot-com bubble, Perkins notes.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026
Customs and Border Protection by roughly 32%, deflating its higher tariff obligations, the 2022 suit alleged.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
She takes in more of his deflating stalling before saying to him, in English, “Dr. Kim, I love you.”
From Salon ● Apr. 23, 2026
I press my lips flat on the cold mouthpiece and blow softly—not enough, and the note leaks out, like a tire deflating.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
