Definition

1. Verb (Transitive):

   • To release the air or gas from something, causing it to shrink or collapse: To make something smaller or less full by letting out the air or gas inside it.
   • To reduce the confidence, pride, or optimism of someone: To make someone feel less important, confident, or hopeful.
   • To reduce the amount or availability of (money or credit), causing a decline in economic activity or prices: To cause deflation in an economy.

2. Verb (Intransitive):

   • To become smaller or collapse by losing air or gas: To lose air or gas and become less full or swollen.

Examples of Usage

• Verb (Transitive):

  • He used a pin to deflate the balloon. (He released the air from the balloon, making it collapse.)
  • The harsh criticism deflated her enthusiasm for the project. (The criticism reduced her enthusiasm.)
  • The central bank's policy aimed to deflate the housing bubble. (The policy aimed to reduce the overvaluation in the housing market.)

• Verb (Intransitive):

  • The football slowly deflated overnight. (The football lost air and became soft.)
  • After the party, all the decorations deflated. (The decorations collapsed as the air left them.)

Advanced Usage

• In Economics: To describe a sustained decrease in the general price level of goods and services, often accompanied by reduced economic activity.

  • The government feared that raising interest rates would deflate the economy too quickly.

• Figurative Use: To describe the act of puncturing someone's ego or reducing exaggerated expectations.

  • His arrogant speech was deflated by a single, pointed question from the audience.

Variants and Related Words

• Deflation (n): A general decline in prices for goods and services, often associated with a reduction in the money supply or credit.

  • The period was marked by severe deflation and high unemployment.

• Deflationary (adj): Tending to cause economic deflation.

  • The new tax policy had a deflationary effect on consumer spending.

• Deflated (adj): Feeling less confident or disappointed; also, having had air/gas released.

  • She felt deflated after hearing the news. / We found a deflated tire.

Synonyms

• Collapse: To fall down or in suddenly.
• Shrink: To become or make smaller.
• Diminish: To make or become less.
• Dispirit: To cause to lose enthusiasm or hope.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Deflate" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• To take the wind out of someone's sails: To discourage someone by saying or doing something that spoils their confidence or pleasure. (This idiom is a close conceptual synonym for the figurative sense of "deflate.")
  • His triumphant moment was deflated when he realized his mistake. (Similar to: The error took the wind out of his sails.)

Verb

1. become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air
   • The balloons deflated
2. reduce or cut back the amount or availability of, creating a decline in value or prices
   • deflate the currency
3. produce deflation in
   • The new measures deflated the economy
4. reduce or lessen the size or importance of
   • The bad review of his work deflated his self-confidence
5. release contained air or gas from
   • deflate the air mattress
6. collapse by releasing contained air or gas
   • deflate a balloon