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.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
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.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
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.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words
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.

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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
  • Ramirez’s Independence home was condemned by the city after a basement wall collapsed during the storms.
    — Maddie Carr, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2025
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • Studies have shown that eating protein before refined carbs promotes the secretion of the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) from the gut, which delays gastric emptying and suppresses appetite.
    — Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2025
  • Watch for stamina issues as Dacres is emptying the tank with punches and its the third round.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 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
  • Studies have shown that matcha can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
    — Michiko Tomioka, CNBC, 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
  • It's considered lossless to the eye, but the signal is actually compressed at a 3:1 ratio.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 13 July 2025
  • However, extreme space weather events may compress – or in some cases, peel back – the Earth’s magnetic shield.
    — Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 11 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
  • Though the state gained thousands of new residents in 2023, most Wisconsin counties are expected to face declining populations by 2050, according to a January report from the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
    — Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deflate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflate. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on deflate

Nglish: Translation of deflate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Better Ways to Say 'This Sucks'

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Our Best Historical Slang Terms

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All