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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The Maple Leafs added an insurance goal with 5:43 left to deflate a home crowd that hadn’t had much to cheer about most of the night. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025 Gasoline prices have fallen (or, deflated) in recent months alongside those of oil, from which gasoline is refined. —Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 13 May 2025 Now, with borrowing costs rising and liquidity tightening, these bubbles are deflating—fast. —Ivan Illan, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025 But before kick-off, Alexander Isak had been ruled out with a recurrence of a groin issue, which deflated the visitors hugely. —Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 19 May 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 security perimeter collapses, and the risk increases exponentially.
    — Craig Davies, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • Video shows the man collapse to the ground, deputies said.
    — Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 26 May 2025
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • By Carol McCloud, Illustrated by David Messing Summary: This book explains clearly and simply how everyone has an invisible bucket that can be filled through small acts of kindness or emptied by acts of thoughtlessness or cruelty.
    — Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • Newer buildings to the west are more stable and marketable, while unimproved buildings to the east are struggling and emptying.
    — Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 29 May 2025
Definition of empty
Verb
  • Their original sentences, which were 12 years and seven years, respectively, were reduced in September 2023.
    — Esther Kang, People.com, 28 May 2025
  • With Bayern aiming to reduce their wage bill, the Wirtz signing would have come at the cost of at least an extra €20million (£16.8m, $22.7m) per year, on top of a transfer fee somewhere between €100m and €150m.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • But years of storms have undermined the existing Southernmost Plaza where the marker sits.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
  • But their deadly design may undermine human health, too.
    — Matt Fuchs, Time, 5 June 2025
Definition of undermine
Verb
  • Eventually, they were so thoroughly compressed that nuclear fusion got going—and boom, the very first stars lit up the universe.
    — Robin George Andrews, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025
  • Costello neatly compressed the clichés of political pop.
    — Armond White, National Review, 28 May 2025
Definition of compress
Verb
  • Reserve forward Obi Toppin helped swing the game, draining five 3s off the bench.
    — Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 6 June 2025
  • These unnecessary burdens slow them down, drain their energy, and keep them from reaching their next level.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Definition of drain
Verb
  • The April 11 ruling came during a hearing in Maryland, where a Justice Department attorney declined to provide basic details about Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts.
    — Chantelle Lee, Time, 7 June 2025
  • Full-time workers declined by 623,000, while part-timers rose by 33,000.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Definition of decline
Verb
  • Bias, inaccuracies and missing values can all weaken model reliability.
    — Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • Coercing democratic allies such as Canada or Denmark more broadly weakens trust in U.S. alliances; threatening Panama reawakens fears of imperialism throughout Latin America; crippling the U.S. Agency for International Development undercuts the United States’ reputation for benevolence.
    — Robert O. Keohane, Foreign Affairs, 2 June 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 11 Jun. 2025.

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