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.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in declining
to make or become lower in amount or value
The excess supply deflated prices. The company's stock has deflated.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deflating
For three deflating decades, IKEA’s dream of inflatable furniture fell flat.
—
Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
The Lakers’ latest deflating loss could have used Doncic’s energy, his showmanship, his fire.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The deflating defeat, narrated by an intermittent cascade of boos, rendered their record the worst in baseball at 7-16 and suddenly a half-game lousier than the idle New York Mets.
—Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
SpaceX’s sudden burst of AI investments also means the company is vulnerable to any deflating AI bubble.
—Ramin Skibba, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Entering May, the Giants are 13-18 and sit in last place in the NL West after being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, a deflating three games in the City of Brotherly Love that snapped their three-series winning streak.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Investigators said that likely because the tires were deflating, Johnson lost control of the fire engine at 1st Street and Main Street in downtown Longmont.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
And Vance doesn’t seem to mind deflating the balloon.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
But Lionel Messi and his team went home dejected after another deflating stalemate, this time 1-1 against the New England Revolution.
—Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
The Lakers’ latest deflating loss could have used Doncic’s energy, his showmanship, his fire.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2026
The deflating defeat, narrated by an intermittent cascade of boos, rendered their record the worst in baseball at 7-16 and suddenly a half-game lousier than the idle New York Mets.
—Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
SpaceX’s sudden burst of AI investments also means the company is vulnerable to any deflating AI bubble.
—Ramin Skibba, Scientific American, 4 May 2026
Entering May, the Giants are 13-18 and sit in last place in the NL West after being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, a deflating three games in the City of Brotherly Love that snapped their three-series winning streak.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Investigators said that likely because the tires were deflating, Johnson lost control of the fire engine at 1st Street and Main Street in downtown Longmont.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2026
And Vance doesn’t seem to mind deflating the balloon.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
But Lionel Messi and his team went home dejected after another deflating stalemate, this time 1-1 against the New England Revolution.
—Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflating
Verb
-
Because of his show’s cancellation, a wormhole opened up backstage at the Ed Sullivan Theater, collapsing the space between his Strike Force Five co-hosts.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
22 May 2026
-
Seattle’s economy, far from collapsing, continued to boom.—
Nick Hanauer,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
This means emptying out saucers, watering cans, and baby pools.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
-
Across China, Japan and South Korea, young people left their countryside homes in droves to find work in major cities, often leaving behind emptying villages occupied by a shrinking number of elderly people.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Black Bear officials cited the program's declining participation rates and finances as the reason.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
Sadly, bat populations are declining rapidly in North America.—
The Conversation,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
War dents Saudi’s efforts to diversify economy The Iran war is undermining Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify away from oil, while boosting the kingdom’s oil revenues.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
22 May 2026
-
Simply, China has calculated that maintaining this French outpost is more effective for its global energy strategy than undermining French rule.—
Wesley Alexander Hill,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Fellow livestream host La La Anthony, a bronze goddess in a Wiederhoeft gown dripping with jewels, channeled her inner Jessica Rabbit with red hair.—
Swasti Singhai,
USA Today,
20 May 2026
-
The pop superstar, 36, stepped out for a wedding dripping in recognizable jewels once owned by one of her latest album's muses, Elizabeth Taylor, while heading to Honey's cocktail bar with her fiancé, Travis Kelce, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, on Saturday, May 16.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Plant the cutting in well-draining soil in a 12-inch tall pot that’s about 6 inches wide so the roots have plenty of room to grow.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 May 2026
-
More turbulent water draining from the desert via seasonal drainage channels called wadis might have brought others.—
Geoff Emberling,
The Conversation,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
The majority-Republican House Committee on Appropriations proposed on Wednesday less extreme but still substantial cuts, slashing 20% from the agency and reducing funding to the state clean water programs by almost 25%.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
On the next play, an Evans flyout scored Rey, reducing the deficit to 6-3.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
That separation is now weakening.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
In addition to these external influences, Dini emphasized that long-term domestic instability has left Somalia’s coastline vulnerable, weakening local institutions and lowering the risks for pirate networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deflating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflating. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
