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
For those who are, the effect is more like sitting on a slowly deflating whoopee cushion soaked in arterial spray.
—
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
The ingredient, a vasoconstrictor, tightens blood vessels beneath the eyes—in turn, deflating puffiness and tightening skin’s appearance.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
As the Dodge attempted to enter the highway, officers deployed stop sticks, deflating two of the vehicle’s tires.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
The Pico Pump is a teeny tiny air pump for inflating everything from sleeping pads to minnow boats – and deflating them in a flash too.
—New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026
Analysts said that the Folgers owner is a winner from deflating coffee prices and that activist Elliott's stake in the company may lead to positive portfolio changes.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
To run it back at running back remains deflating.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
And amid the upheaval of the roster at the trade deadline, the Bulls have completely lost their ability to beat teams out of the break, resulting in a recurring — and deflating — pattern of competing decently in the first half, then falling apart after halftime.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The criminal mania of cult leader and prolific psychedelic user Charles Manson, who murdered seven people in 1969, is often cited by researchers as an example of the worst possible outcome of psychedelic use untempered by an ego-deflating ritual process.
—Erica Rex, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
Katie Rife, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026
The ingredient, a vasoconstrictor, tightens blood vessels beneath the eyes—in turn, deflating puffiness and tightening skin’s appearance.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 14 Mar. 2026
As the Dodge attempted to enter the highway, officers deployed stop sticks, deflating two of the vehicle’s tires.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
The Pico Pump is a teeny tiny air pump for inflating everything from sleeping pads to minnow boats – and deflating them in a flash too.
—New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026
Analysts said that the Folgers owner is a winner from deflating coffee prices and that activist Elliott's stake in the company may lead to positive portfolio changes.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
To run it back at running back remains deflating.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
And amid the upheaval of the roster at the trade deadline, the Bulls have completely lost their ability to beat teams out of the break, resulting in a recurring — and deflating — pattern of competing decently in the first half, then falling apart after halftime.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
The criminal mania of cult leader and prolific psychedelic user Charles Manson, who murdered seven people in 1969, is often cited by researchers as an example of the worst possible outcome of psychedelic use untempered by an ego-deflating ritual process.
—Erica Rex, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflating
Verb
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Set in a collapsing Caracas, the film follows a woman who returns home after her mother’s funeral to find her apartment taken over by an armed militia.—
Adam Bell
April 2,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The industry was at risk of collapsing—until the physical chemist Fritz Haber, at the behest of the German Supreme Command, managed to take a common by-product of dye manufacture and weaponize it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ashley Dixon, content creator and home DIY expert behind Alexander Renee Design, says that the process is straightforward, and should start with emptying your fridge of items past their prime.—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Heat waved the white flag midway through the fourth quarter, emptying its bench.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
European luxury is entering a high-stakes first-quarter reporting period as sentiment has taken a decisive hit, just as many of the sector's big names were nearing a turning point after years of declining sales.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Royal Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Cold War ended, with combat-ready ships declining from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, following decades of military spending cuts.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Common topics of health misinformation include false claims about vaccines, promoting remedies that are not supported by science and undermining scientific understanding about the causes of different health issues.—
Deidre McPhillips,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Experts say multinationals and foreign investors still want a share of India's consumption story — but the country's inability to create more white-collar jobs is undermining that narrative.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The king hosted a banquet for him in a hall dripping with flowers and gold leaf.—
Danica Kirka,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
This is the best that West has ever looked, including every shirtless scene and every time he’s gotten out of the pool dripping wet.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
No jumping back into draining obligations.—
Tiffany Aliche,
SELF,
30 Mar. 2026
-
When correctly implemented, first-time business owners can avoid many of the common time-draining processes.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One bill focuses on reducing construction costs by updating building codes.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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While these methods remain effective, excessive tilling can break down soil aggregates into smaller particles, reducing soil health and increasing erosion risk.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Seniors are the most reliable midterm voters in the country, and with the 2026 elections approaching and affordability already their top concern, weakening this program is a risk Republicans should not be taking.—
Joe Hardy,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
However, rejecting the goal of citizenship verification altogether risks weakening public confidence in the system.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deflating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflating. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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