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   deflate

   /dɪˈfleɪt/

   verb

   • 1. let air or gas out of (a tyre, balloon, or similar object): "he deflated one of the tyres" Similar let downempty the air out ofcollapseflattenvoidpunctureOpposite inflateblow up
   • ▪ be emptied of air or gas: "the balloon deflated" Similar go downcollapseshrinkcontractflattenOpposite inflateexpand
   • 2. make (someone) suddenly lose confidence or feel dispirited: "his response deflated me" Similar subduehumblecowhumiliatemortifychastenchagrindispiritdismaydiscouragedisheartensquashcrushflattenbring downbring lowtake down a peg or twotake the wind out of someone's sailsinformal:cut down to sizeknock the stuffing out ofput downOpposite aggrandize
   • ▪ reduce the level of (an emotion or feeling): "her anger was deflated"
   • 3. bring about a general reduction of price levels in (an economy): "the budget deflated the economy" Similar reduceslow downmake less activediminishlessenlowerdevaluedepreciatedepressOpposite inflate

   Word Origin late 19th century: from de- (expressing reversal) + -flate (as in inflate).

   Derivatives

   • 1. deflator noun

   Scrabble Points: 11

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • F

     4

   • L

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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