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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deflating
So why does the sight of her, bottle-blonde and clad in a green dress that screams vintage Dream Factory glitz, still give off such deflating Jenny-from-the-block vibes?
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
This is a bit deflating after where things stood in June.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 8 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
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025
This is a bit deflating after where things stood in June.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 8 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflating
Verb
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The rare, direct foreign intervention, which will take the form of a currency swap, is aimed at boosting a collapsing peso and calming market volatility ahead of Argentina’s midterm elections later this month.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Oct. 2025
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Rising delinquency rates among other concerns, recently led to subprime auto lender Tricolor unexpectedly collapsing.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This emptying-out trajectory may be familiar to anyone who's read accounts of contemplative mystical experiences.—
Jim Higgins,
jsonline.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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The Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Friday night at T-Mobile Park, emptying their bullpen, testing their wills and winning a game that stretched deep into the night.—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Screening is key Across all ages, colorectal cancer cases and related deaths in the US have been declining for decades, Ng said, attributing that success to improvements in treatment and public health efforts to promote screening.—
Andrea Kane,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
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Many consumers have started to turn their backs on luxury goods; fed up with a lack of ingenuity, skyrocketing daily expenses, and arguably declining quality, shoppers are thinking twice before splurging on designer items.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And this misapplication, whether through inappropriate comparisons and limited context, or a disregard for methodological boundaries, risks undermining both consumer and stakeholder trust in sustainability claims and data integrity—and misleading investments and interventions.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
13 Oct. 2025
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Examples of creative destruction include e-commerce disrupting retail, streaming services replacing videocassette and DVD rentals and internet advertising undermining newspaper advertising.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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With blood dripping down its white fur in dramatic form, the enormous polar bear ultimately succeeds in brushing off the black bear.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
8 Oct. 2025
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Produced before the rigid censorship of Hollywood’s Hays Code, The Old Dark House is much more explicit than horror films in the years to follow, dripping with provocations and innuendos, with a daring sensibility befitting a director whose own personal life flew in the face of convention.—
Samantha Allen,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The region’s cool climate, long sunny days, and well-draining soils create the ideal conditions for producing crisp, aromatic wines with vibrant fruit flavors.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Oct. 2025
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Parents supporting their children’s tuition can now pursue their own degrees without draining family finances.—
Jason Phillips,
Freep.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Actions the report calls for include rapidly reducing planet-heating pollution and scaling up carbon removal from the atmosphere.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
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See video … LISTEN Tune in to the FOX NEWS RUNDOWN PODCAST to learn how the White House plans to strengthen control over critical minerals while reducing dependence on China.—
,
FOXNews.com,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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By suddenly disclosing its true holdings, China could drive up gold prices while signaling stronger backing for the renminbi, thus weakening the dollar’s global clout.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
15 Oct. 2025
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Recent economic data has suggested a weakening labor market and inflation up a touch, but not so much as to crack the stock market.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deflating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflating. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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