1
as in compressed
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 emptied
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 reduced
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 weakened
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
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Recent Examples of deflated
Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2026
Feeling like a deflated balloon.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026
If nothing else, Rodgers would take out the frustration of a first-round playoff defeat on the 22-year-old Bullock and deny him a chance to celebrate in front of 67,297 deflated fans.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Some baristas may feel deflated watching Starbucks employees notch union victories without ratified contracts to show for it.
—Bryce Covert, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Nov. 2025
Brady himself was caught throwing deflated footballs.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
There was even a deflated version of his first look, where the material turned into an embroidery-like flurry.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
After more than one week of treatment, X-rays show that Zoe is mostly deflated.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
After more than one week of treatment, X-rays showed Zoe is mostly deflated.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
Khosla’s remarks recalled those from economic expert Kent Smetters, director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, who told Fortune in January that so many goods have been deflated in price that people don’t fully appreciate the benefits.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Yes, Pettersson’s been hindered by a disappointing group of wingers (Evander Kane, Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser) on his line, which has almost certainly deflated his point production.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Through age or choice, that voice has deflated considerably, sounding more like Caine from Menace II Society than Smokey from Friday.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Her hair was the wrong blonde, her Birkin deflated, her coat cheaply fitted.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
But those hopes soon were deflated.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Any sense of achievement is just so deflated.
—Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 16 Feb. 2026
Feeling like a deflated balloon.
—Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026
If nothing else, Rodgers would take out the frustration of a first-round playoff defeat on the 22-year-old Bullock and deny him a chance to celebrate in front of 67,297 deflated fans.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Some baristas may feel deflated watching Starbucks employees notch union victories without ratified contracts to show for it.
—Bryce Covert, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Nov. 2025
Brady himself was caught throwing deflated footballs.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
There was even a deflated version of his first look, where the material turned into an embroidery-like flurry.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
During her own eighth grade trip to Washington, DC, Laymon remembers feeling deflated, after not seeing women’s stories reflected at any of the attractions in the nation’s capital.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
After more than one week of treatment, X-rays show that Zoe is mostly deflated.
—Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026
After more than one week of treatment, X-rays showed Zoe is mostly deflated.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
Khosla’s remarks recalled those from economic expert Kent Smetters, director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, who told Fortune in January that so many goods have been deflated in price that people don’t fully appreciate the benefits.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Yes, Pettersson’s been hindered by a disappointing group of wingers (Evander Kane, Jake DeBrusk, Brock Boeser) on his line, which has almost certainly deflated his point production.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Through age or choice, that voice has deflated considerably, sounding more like Caine from Menace II Society than Smokey from Friday.
—Dylan Green, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Her hair was the wrong blonde, her Birkin deflated, her coat cheaply fitted.
—Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
But those hopes soon were deflated.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflated
Adjective
-
When first responders arrived at the scene, authorities discovered that staff at the venue and wedding guests had already provided initial first aid to some guests and used ladders to help those who fell through the collapsed floor.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
-
But even in a semi-collapsed state, people want family and children and vacations, and so Caroline somewhat reluctantly joins Adam and a cohort of others on Haven.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While the valuation has compressed meaningfully, the company’s weakening growth profile and persistent underperformance suggest the market may still be adjusting to a lower-quality earnings outlook.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
-
During ejection, a moon’s orbit can become highly elongated, generating strong tidal forces as it is repeatedly stretched and compressed by its host planet.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The threatened building at the end of Williams Avenue in Strathmere has been emptied, and the township committee voted this week to demolish it.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Your life is not a sprint, and your mind is not a fuel tank to be emptied.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The character, played by Esteban Andres Cruz, has been reduced to a simpering stereotype who makes a pass at a cop and mimics a blow job.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Seen from this perspective, ecology cannot be reduced to questions of proximity alone.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But, Scanlon noted, the budget was weakened by federal policy changes.—
Keith M. Phaneuf,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Shipping and insurance costs, inflation and uncertainty are on the rise, and with currencies in developing countries now weakened, imports such as fuel and food are even more expensive for residents.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The escalation in the Middle East has drained both attention and resources away from Ukraine, Vadym, 31, added.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Gilgeous-Alexander was 5 of 15 from the floor in the first three quarters, but drained all three of his shots in the fourth.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The price of crude plunged by more than ten per cent.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Export revenues plunged by about 30% that month compared with a year earlier.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For the Royals, the loss undermined a stellar performance from starting pitcher Michael Wacha.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
-
These institutions undermined themselves too.—
Gil Troy,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deflated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflated. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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