deflate

verb

Definition of deflatenext
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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Synonym Chooser

How is the word deflate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of deflate are compress, condense, constrict, contract, and shrink. While all these words mean "to decrease in bulk or volume," deflate implies a contracting by reducing the internal pressure of contained air or gas.

deflate the balloon

When might compress be a better fit than deflate?

The words compress and deflate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, compress implies a pressing into a small compass and definite shape usually against resistance.

compressed cotton into bales

When is it sensible to use condense instead of deflate?

While in some cases nearly identical to deflate, condense implies a reducing of something homogeneous to greater compactness without significant loss of content.

condense the essay into a paragraph

In what contexts can constrict take the place of deflate?

In some situations, the words constrict and deflate are roughly equivalent. However, constrict implies a tightening that reduces diameter.

the throat is constricted by a tight collar

When is contract a more appropriate choice than deflate?

The meanings of contract and deflate largely overlap; however, contract applies to a drawing together of surfaces or particles or a reduction of area or length.

caused her muscles to contract

When would shrink be a good substitute for deflate?

The words shrink and deflate can be used in similar contexts, but shrink implies a contracting or a loss of material and stresses a falling short of original dimensions.

the sweater will shrink when washed

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 deflate Wenyu tried to stuff her Doraemon plushie into the suitcase, but Doraemon bounced back, refusing to deflate. —Literary Hub, 1 July 2025 Following the trade, the Red Sox went 3-6 on a deflating West Coast trip. —Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 28 June 2025 The deflating play saw Domínguez slide head-first through the legs of Luis Rengifo. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025 Instead, Bubic told me in April, he hardly even was deflated. —Vahe Gregorian july 8, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for deflate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflate
  1. collapse
  2. empty
  3. reduce
  4. undermine
  5. compress
  6. drain
  7. decline
  8. weaken
Verb
  • The episode ended with a deep-fake public service announcement that showed Trump walking through the desert, taking off his clothes and collapsing nude in the sand.
    — Christine Ricciardi, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
  • Burrell, 55, was found collapsed on her shower floor in her Brooklyn apartment at about 1 a.m. on June 17.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 24 July 2025
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • The telling factor is that this deal has now emptied all goodwill from the trans-Atlantic relationship, and effectively completes another diplomatic rupture by President Trump.
    — Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Shelves began to empty last month and in the last few weeks, customers have been offered deep discounts on remaining products at the locations in the Village at Pacific Highlands Ranch and Del Mar Highlands Town Center.
    — Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2025
Definition of empty
Verb
  • Do not follow large vehicles closely - Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.
    — KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2025
  • President Donald Trump on Friday put the odds of striking a trade deal with Europe to reduce the tariff rate on their imports at 50-50, even as diplomats from the trading bloc have expressed optimism in recent days that an agreement could be near.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 July 2025
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • Avoid Common Mistakes Despite the benefits of catch-up contributions, many individuals make avoidable errors that undermine their effectiveness.
    — True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
  • The firing of a career public servant, lawfully appointed by the court, is another blatant attempt to intimidate anyone that doesn't agree with them and undermine judicial independence.
    — Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • The answer is a large-scale study (compressing five days of work into four) that employs more objective measurements in addition to self-reports and shows results that satisfy both worker well-being and business objectives.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • They are often compressed into triangular, ball, or cylinder shapes and wrapped in seaweed.
    — Michiko Tomioka, CNBC, 26 July 2025
Definition of compress
Verb
  • Several of Yazan’s four older siblings also looked thin and drained.
    — Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2025
  • The answer is to stop dating men who drain your brilliance, and to start dating as the woman who chooses herself first.
    — Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of drain
Verb
  • Brown-Forman's sales declined 5% in the 2025 fiscal year, partly due to ongoing tariff disputes.
    — Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
  • Read on to find out where home prices have declined the most over the last year.
    — Andrew DePietro, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Definition of decline
Verb
  • This weakens their ability to educate, create, and grow.
    — Miguel Cardona, Time, 21 July 2025
  • This could help verify recent findings from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) that suggest this strange force is actually weakening over time.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 July 2025
Definition of weaken

Browse Nearby Words

deflagrating
deflate
deflated
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Cite this Entry

“Deflate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflate. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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