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
Switzerland came out strong in the second half with two goals within 15 minutes, utterly deflating Canada's energy until the hydration break.
—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
25 June 2026
But just as deflating is seeing your hard work go to waste due to bugs dining on your fruits.
—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
24 June 2026
Portugal is likely to make some changes to their playing XI after their deflating draw, but a lot will still rely on captain Cristiano Ronaldo and the midfield trio of Vitinha, João Neves, and Bruno Fernandes.
—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
23 June 2026
The Spurs still held a 90-75 lead leading into the fourth quarter, but the Knicks kept deflating that cushion.
—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Oil prices spiked in the wake of the exchanges, with Brent crude rising 5% to hit $98 a barrel, before deflating once more.
—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
No question, the end of the season was deflating and demoralizing.
—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Whipping up a batch seems like a simple enough endeavor, yet a handful of common missteps can quickly turn the ideal home breakfast into a deflating letdown.
—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 May 2026
For three deflating decades, IKEA’s dream of inflatable furniture fell flat.
—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
25 June 2026
But just as deflating is seeing your hard work go to waste due to bugs dining on your fruits.
—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
24 June 2026
Portugal is likely to make some changes to their playing XI after their deflating draw, but a lot will still rely on captain Cristiano Ronaldo and the midfield trio of Vitinha, João Neves, and Bruno Fernandes.
—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
23 June 2026
The Spurs still held a 90-75 lead leading into the fourth quarter, but the Knicks kept deflating that cushion.
—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Oil prices spiked in the wake of the exchanges, with Brent crude rising 5% to hit $98 a barrel, before deflating once more.
—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
No question, the end of the season was deflating and demoralizing.
—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Whipping up a batch seems like a simple enough endeavor, yet a handful of common missteps can quickly turn the ideal home breakfast into a deflating letdown.
—
Maggie Meyer Glisan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 May 2026
For three deflating decades, IKEA’s dream of inflatable furniture fell flat.
—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflating
Verb
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The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.
-
Unlike straw or lower-grade wool blends, beaver felt can be reworked without collapsing its structure, which is what allows hats to be reshaped by hand rather than stamped out of a mold.
Verb
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At the end of a two-week trial, the verdict went strongly in favor of Maria Avila, who was viciously attacked by Hades, a 200-pound Caucasian shepherd owned by Brown, while emptying trash outside the singer’s Tarzana, California house.
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Its dual anti-tangle brush assembly prevents hair clogs, while a self-emptying base holds up to seven weeks of debris.
Verb
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After years of declining sales, American Girl dolls are seeing a resurgence.
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The state also has goals, including some that have been in place since 2012, that set declining limits on smog-causing pollutants and required automakers to sell increasing percentages of electric and hybrid vehicles through 2025.
Verb
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Introducing such evidence can provoke sympathy for the defendant and distrust towards the prosecuting attorney, potentially undermining the case.
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The following evening, three legislators complained to me that several of these groups were actively undermining one another.
Verb
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In really humid temperatures, the air becomes saturated with water vapour meaning sweat does not evaporate as efficiently, leaving humans in hot, humid environments dripping with sweat as the body struggles to get rid of excess heat.
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The music was slinky, glamorous, dripping in delicious campiness.
Verb
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The floor sink beneath the 3-comp sink was draining slowly and observed unclean.
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Their variety of runs and rotations are hard for any side to defend against, with the Spaniards slowly draining your physical and mental energy across the course of 90 minutes (or more).
Verb
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Manucurist formulates its masks with panthenol, a form of vitamin B5, to hydrate and strengthen dry nails over time, reducing breakage.
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Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
Verb
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Goldman Sachs predicts a sustained dollar weakening in 2026, driven by fiscal concerns and shifting global asset demand, marking a structural shift rather than a cyclical dip.
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Ukrainian officials describe the strikes as a campaign to pressure Moscow to end the war by undermining its military logistics and supply lines and weakening its ability to mount assaults along the front.
Cite this Entry
“Deflating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflating. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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