deflate Hear it!

deflate Definition

de·flate (dē flāt′, di-)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·flat′ed, -·flat′·ing

  1. to collapse by letting out air or gas to deflate a tire
  2. to make or become smaller or less important
  3. to cause deflation of (currency, prices, etc.)

Etymology: de- + (in)flate

deflate Related Forms
de·fla′·tor noun
deflate Synonyms

deflate

v.

collapse, let the air out, flatten, discourage; see contract 1, decrease 1, 2, discourage 1, empty 1, 2, humble. See syn. study at contract.

deflate Usage Examples

Preposition: in

  • way: It can be inflated and deflated in this way, until the right level of restriction is established.

Object

  • balloon: They draped down from the supports like deflated balloons.
  • tire: Some 400 hundred miles later the rear tire deflated to be followed 6 miles later by the front tire.
  • castle: The deflated bouncy castle landed on the hippo repair man.
  • economy: To deflate the economy means to set out to deliberately reduce the level of economic activity.
  • price: Many sellers are nervous that management have kept back good news so as to deflate the purchase price.
  • ego: It can walk away having suffered no more than a little bruised pride and a deflated ego.

Preposition: for

  • storage: Can be inflated with in minutes and are quickly deflated for easy storage.

Modifying Another Word

  • gently: It did not cause it to burst but rather to deflate gently.
  • slowly: At the end of the festival the unusual erection will be slowly deflated, leaving no trace of its existence.
  • partially: Only once has the writer gone through on a dinghy, and then only after partially deflating it.
  • somewhat: The list returned to the bar in dribs and drabs, somewhat deflated.
  • slightly: Yet I still came away slightly deflated - it was just too easy.
  • quickly: Can be inflated with in minutes and are quickly deflated for easy storage.

Preposition: at

  • interval: This catheter has a small balloon attached at one end, which is inflated and deflated at regular intervals by a machine.