1
as in to collapse
to become smaller in size or volume due to loss of contents
We kept her birthday decorations up until the balloons started deflating.
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2
as in to empty
to make smaller in size or volume by removing the contents
Please deflate the air mattress and fold it up before you leave.
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3
as in to reduce
to make or become lower in amount or value
The excess supply deflated prices. The company's stock has deflated.
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4
as in to undermine
to cause to lose force or effectiveness
Her cutting remark deflated his ego. The lawsuit deflated their hopes for a quick resolution.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deflate
The criminal mania of cult leader and prolific psychedelic user Charles Manson, who murdered seven people in 1969, is often cited by researchers as an example of the worst possible outcome of psychedelic use untempered by an ego-deflating ritual process.
—
Erica Rex, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
But those hopes soon were deflated.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Here’s a look at how Malinin’s deflating night unfolded.
—Zack Pierce, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
That idea was deflated by Black American Jesse Owens, who won four track and field gold medals at the games.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflate
Erica Rex, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
But those hopes soon were deflated.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Here’s a look at how Malinin’s deflating night unfolded.
—Zack Pierce, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
That idea was deflated by Black American Jesse Owens, who won four track and field gold medals at the games.
—Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflate
Verb
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Degrading Iran’s war machine The larger munitions would have likely been used to penetrate underground facilities, destroy missile launch bunkers, and collapse tunnels or storage depots.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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This side-splitting comedy follows the same well-meaning troupe from The Play That Goes Wrong, whose latest attempt at staging Peter Pan quickly collapses into chaos.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Not fully emptying your pockets before walking through the scanner can trigger the alarm, requiring a full physical screening by a TSA officer.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
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Make sure all of the wasps are dead, and empty the trap at night when the wasps are less active.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The thinking, according to airport officials, is to encourage riders to use the yet-to-open Automated People Mover, also known as Skylink, and to reduce vehicle traffic around the terminals.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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From the guest's POV, drinking water is provided in reusable glass bottles, with water refilling stations across the property, and restaurant ingredients are sourced from the nearby partner South Farm and local suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint and support the community.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The remarks, delivered to Standard Bank executives and reported for the first time by Semafor, captured the growing unease among policymakers about how quickly the external shocks can undermine domestic planning, especially for an open, import-dependent economy like South Africa.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Aleph and other Jewish chaplaincy groups say the chaplaincy system is being undermined by the Messianic movement, whose adherents may identify as Jews but are not recognized as such by any denomination of Judaism.—
Asaf Elia-Shalev,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This enables compressed heat to be stored and reused throughout the process without fossil fuel combustion, delivering significant low‑carbon benefits, according to a press release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
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Inevitably, however, the result feels like the character evolutions, machinations, and plot pivots of an entire series of the show compressed desperately into 112 minutes.—
Miriam Balanescu,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Use your hands to agitate the greens (this will dislodge any stubborn bits of grit or dirt), then drain and spin dry.—
Riley Wofford,
Martha Stewart,
5 Mar. 2026
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Improper Amount of Water Dogwoods prefer well-draining soil, and excessive watering can affect the number of flowers (and leaves) on the tree.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Iranian retaliatory attacks appear to be declining — ballistic missile strikes have fallen by 90% and drone attacks by 83%, according to US Central Command — potentially easing pressure on Gulf states that have faced Iranian strikes in recent days.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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Bonta’s office declined to comment.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Although weakened, the factions still survive, and could form a powerful, transnational and motivated insurgency when the time comes to fight whatever emerges if the Islamic Republic falls.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
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Several bills that had been filed in the state Senate and House of Representatives, which critics have warned would weaken reporting and training standards for the Department of Child and Family Services, have been put on hold, according to state officials.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deflate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflate. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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