1
as in collapsing
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 emptying
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 declining
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 undermining
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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Recent Examples of deflating
After the deflating late loss to Arsenal, this represented a perfect response.
—
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Best knows numbers like that can feel deflating, since most filmmakers are neither global speakers nor hot young comedians.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
Try to get underneath dough to pick portions up without deflating them.
—Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
Simoncic was one of two officers deploying tire-deflating devices in the 7200 block of State Avenue when Mitchell swerved, intentionally striking Simoncic, police Chief Karl Oakman previously told reporters.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
The cost of homes has been slowing deflating after the COVID-19 pandemic drove rates sky high.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2025
Scientists can estimate a few days or even a week ahead of time when lava is likely to emerge with the help of sensors around the volcano that detect earthquakes and minuscule changes in the angle of the ground, which indicate when magma is inflating or deflating.
—CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
In fact, four of the top five key commodities which tend to be leading indicators for grocery inflation, have been disinflating/deflating in price.
—John Choong, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Weissert then allowed another double, this one to veteran Andrew McCutcheon, scoring Pham giving Pittsburgh the lead -- and deflating the sellout Fenway crowd of 36,344 which to that point had been at a fever pitch.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Best knows numbers like that can feel deflating, since most filmmakers are neither global speakers nor hot young comedians.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2025
Try to get underneath dough to pick portions up without deflating them.
—Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2025
Simoncic was one of two officers deploying tire-deflating devices in the 7200 block of State Avenue when Mitchell swerved, intentionally striking Simoncic, police Chief Karl Oakman previously told reporters.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2025
The cost of homes has been slowing deflating after the COVID-19 pandemic drove rates sky high.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2025
Scientists can estimate a few days or even a week ahead of time when lava is likely to emerge with the help of sensors around the volcano that detect earthquakes and minuscule changes in the angle of the ground, which indicate when magma is inflating or deflating.
—CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
In fact, four of the top five key commodities which tend to be leading indicators for grocery inflation, have been disinflating/deflating in price.
—John Choong, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Weissert then allowed another double, this one to veteran Andrew McCutcheon, scoring Pham giving Pittsburgh the lead -- and deflating the sellout Fenway crowd of 36,344 which to that point had been at a fever pitch.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflating
Verb
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Those traditional systems are now collapsing alongside aquifers, and ancient settlements in Yazd in central Iran, Kerman in southeast Iran, and Khorasan in northeastern Iran have been abandoned as qanats dried up, aquifers caved in, and land subsided.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Some of the homes now collapsing were once a few lots back from the beach, local residents told USA TODAY.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Or, keep scrolling to find other popular self-emptying robot vacuums on sale.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
This happens because bile is not emptying properly into the intestine.—
Angela Ryan Lee,
Verywell Health,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Schools are facing mounting challenges — from funding pressures to declining enrollment and stagnant student achievement.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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Low midsingle-digit gains are anticipated due to rising prices from tariffs and inflation, declining consumer confidence, economic uncertainties and potential stockouts.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The liberties taken elsewhere also go a long way toward undermining the series’ closing message of near-universal empathy.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
4 Oct. 2025
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Even the Commission has warned that climate disinformation is undermining support for action.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Gucci is clearly embracing jewelry as the characters were dripping with huge pieces, including big ’80s-style earrings.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Something sticky was dripping out of the cabinet.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Instead of reconnecting, conversations with Ella have become draining and repetitive.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Soil Any average well-draining soil is fine because these plants are used to tough conditions and adapt well to a variety of soil types.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The findings have led to the development of potential medical treatments that scientists hope could cure autoimmune diseases, the committee said, as well as providing more effective cancer treatments and reducing complications after stem cell and organ transplants.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
6 Oct. 2025
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Research has shown the benefits of exercise in mitigating the effects of aging by increasing blood flow to the brain and reducing the risk of chronic conditions, such as heart disease.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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If the economy is not weakening, but strengthening, the outlook for inflation could tilt higher.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
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Equal-weight consumer discretionary has been under a bit of pressure, with restaurant and travel names weakening, and is now clearly underperforming the broad market on a one-year basis.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deflating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflating. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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