WordGarden.iodeflate
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /diːflˈeɪt/
US
- /dɪˈfleɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to let air or gas out of something so it becomes soft or collapses
to make someone feel less confident, proud, or enthusiastic
to reduce a price, amount, or measured value, especially by adjusting for inflation
Beyond the definition
Imagine a bouncy castle slowly losing its air—that's what it means to deflate! It can describe something physically losing pressure, like a tire, or something more abstract, like someone's enthusiasm. If harsh criticism deflates your confidence, it makes you feel less hopeful and energetic.
Deflate can imply a sharp loss of spirit or importance. A politician's grand promises might deflate when faced with the cold reality of a budget. It can also mean to lessen the impact of something—for instance, trying to deflate a tense situation with humor. Think of letting the air out of an argument to make it less intense.
To deflate means to reduce pressure or volume, either literally by releasing air or figuratively by diminishing someone's confidence, enthusiasm, or importance. It is a word that speaks to loss—loss of air, energy, or impact.
Physically, you might deflate a beach ball with a pin or notice your car tire slowly deflating over time. This is the most straightforward meaning. However, deflate often moves into the psychological realm. Figuratively, it describes a loss of spirit or momentum. A harsh comment can deflate someone's hopes, leaving them feeling discouraged and disheartened. Similarly, a scandal might deflate a leader's popularity.
Beyond emotions, the word is used to describe lessening the intensity of a situation. If an argument is getting heated, a sincere apology might deflate someone's anger, essentially "taking the wind out of their sails" to prevent a confrontation. In a technical context, the word also appears in economics; to deflate is to reduce the general level of prices in an economy.
Whether it's a punctured tire, a bruised ego, or a shifting economy—when something deflates, it loses its size, pressure, and vibrancy.
Examples
- 1
Balloon
The balloon slowly deflated overnight.
- 2
Air mattress
We need to deflate the air mattress before we pack it away.
- 3
Confidence
One rude comment was enough to deflate his confidence.
- 4
Excitement
The late cancellation deflated everyone's excitement about the trip.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Feeling disappointed
After I failed the interview, I felt completely deflated.
- Phrasefeel deflated
feel suddenly disappointed and low
- 6
Rumors
The company quickly issued a statement to deflate rumors about layoffs.
- Phrasedeflate rumors
make them weaker or less believable
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- deflateverb
Forms
- deflatedpast tenseverb
- deflating-ing formverb
- deflatesverb