deflates

verb

present tense third-person singular of deflate
1
as in collapses
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 empties
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 reduces
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 undermines
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

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 deflates The novel’s climax—a sequence defined by reality-shattering magical spectacle—is narrated by one character to another over FaceTime, a dreadful decision that deflates the entire story. — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 Once the audience is so onboard with Kyle after this intimate aria, Kaplan deflates that. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 June 2026 But Grande’s conceited blonde bubblehead gains in stature here as Glinda assumes statesmanlike responsibility to spread goodness in Oz, while experiencing crushing romantic disappointment that humbles her and deflates her vanity. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 18 Nov. 2025 Cade Horton’s late injury scratch deflates some of the vibes, too. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025 That determination is sent back to the device, which inflates or deflates balloons with air to assist in raising or lowering the arm. — Mack Degeurin Aug 21, Popular Science, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflates
  1. collapses
  2. empties
  3. reduces
  4. undermines
  5. evacuates
  6. plunges
  7. weakens
  8. drains
Verb
  • When a shopping agent handles discovery, evaluation and checkout in a single conversation, the funnel collapses into one step.
    — Haozhuang Dai, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • If the merger collapses altogether, Paramount would instead be on the hook for a $7 billion termination fee to WBD.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of collapses
Verb
  • That access can be a convenience for paying bills, or a problem if one owner empties the account without the other’s agreement.
    — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
  • Eufy Robot Vacuum and Mop Deal The Eufy Omni C20 vacuum and mop offers a hands-free clean with an Omni Station that automatically empties dust, plus washes and dries its own mop pads.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 15 July 2026
Definition of empties
Verb
  • There is a possibility that the strengthening El Niño weather event creates a mild early winter in northeast Asia which reduces demand, Drinkwater said.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The faster process reduces energy which is lost as waste heat.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • An overly aggressive posture undermines the partnership the city has worked to secure through 2030.
    — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Criminalizing editorial judgment sets a dangerous precedent and undermines Bangladesh’s reputation as a democracy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of undermines
Verb
  • Kherson's Drone Siege Spreads That assessment is echoed by Alina Holovko, co-founder of the humanitarian organization Dobra Sprava, who evacuates civilians from frontline towns in the Donbas.
    — David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Not everyone evacuates at once in a storm.
    — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
Definition of evacuates
Verb
  • The tense moment lasts for several seconds before the hippo plunges back underwater and stops following the boat.
    — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Dreams may be a universal and rich experience that plunges us into the unconscious to evoke some truth.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
Definition of plunges
Verb
  • Siegel noted that measles weakens the immune system and increases the risk of pneumonia, which can stem from measles itself or from a secondary bacterial infection.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Employment has been a mostly resilient area of the economy even as stubborn inflation continues to squeeze businesses and households, while consumer confidence weakens.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • Once the cycle is complete, the dirty water drains away and you’re left with clean, wet clothing.
    — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Defensiveness extends conversations, weakens credibility and drains emotional energy that could have been directed toward solving problems.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of drains

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Cite this Entry

“Deflates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflates. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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