deflate

/dɪˈfleɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈfleɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈflāt ˌdē-/ (ame, mw)

deflate — verb

  • deflate,,present simple I / you / we / they
  • deflatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • deflates,,he / she / it
  • deflateshe / she / it
  • deflated,,past simple
  • deflatedpast simple
  • deflating,,-ing form
  • deflating-ing form

1. When a tyre, balloon, or other container loses the air or gas inside it, becomin

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

When a tyre, balloon, or other container loses the air or gas inside it, becoming smaller or flattening — either naturally because the air escapes, or because somebody lets the air out on purpose.

例句

The children watched the red balloon slowly deflate and fall to the ground.

intransitive: [object] deflates naturally

Wei used a small pump to deflate the mattress before storing it in the cupboard.

transitive: deflate [object]

同義詞
  • collapse

    focuses on the structure falling inward; a building collapses, but a balloon is not usually said to collapse

  • flatten

    emphasises the resulting flat shape rather than the mechanism of air loss

  • empty

    broader — you can empty a balloon of water, but empty alone does not specify air or gas release

反義詞
  • inflate

    the direct opposite: to fill with air or gas

文法句型

[object] deflates

deflate [object]

用法筆記

Frequently used both transitively (deflate a balloon) and intransitively (the balloon deflated). The transitive form usually describes a deliberate action; the intransitive may describe a natural or accidental loss of air.

常見錯誤

❌I deflated the balloon by throwing it out the window.
✅I deflated the balloon by letting the air out.
💡'deflate' specifically means releasing the contained air or gas; it does not mean damaging or destroying the object.

2. To reduce the strength, power, or effectiveness of an abstract thing such as an

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

To reduce the strength, power, or effectiveness of an abstract thing such as an argument, a plan, a system, or someone's hopes.

例句

The new evidence deflated the main argument of the prosecution's case.

deflate + abstract object (argument)

Criticism from several experts deflated the company's ambitious expansion plans.

同義詞
  • undermine

    suggests gradual, hidden damage; closer to 'weaken from below'

  • weaken

    more general; any loss of strength, not specific to air or pressure imagery

  • reduce

    broader and less vivid; simply means to make smaller or less

反義詞
  • strengthen

    the opposite of weaken or reduce effectiveness

文法句型

[factor] deflates [abstract noun]

用法筆記

The object is typically an abstract concept (argument, hopes, confidence, enthusiasm, plan). The subject is often an event, new information, or an external factor rather than a person acting deliberately.

常見錯誤

❌The manager deflated the meeting with a joke.
✅The price cut deflated the company's profits.
💡With this sense, the subject is usually a thing (fact, event, factor) rather than a person's deliberate action.

3. To make someone feel less confident, proud, or important, especially by unexpect

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

To make someone feel less confident, proud, or important, especially by unexpectedly pointing out a failure or by saying something critical.

例句

The teacher's sharp remark during class deflated the student's arrogant attitude.

deflate + possessive + attitude/ego

Kwame felt completely deflated when his proposal was rejected without any explanation.

passive: feel deflated

同義詞
  • humiliate

    stronger — implies public shame and loss of dignity

  • embarrass

    focuses on awkwardness rather than loss of confidence or importance

  • deflate (sense 2)

    overlaps in reducing something, but sense 2 targets plans and ideas while sense 3 targets a person's feelings

反義詞
  • encourage

    to give someone confidence or hope

  • boost

    to increase confidence or morale

文法句型

[event/person] deflates [person]

用法筆記

Often appears in the passive (be/get deflated) to describe a resulting emotional state. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 weakens a plan or argument (abstract object), while this sense deflates a person's confidence or pride (personal/emotional effect).

常見錯誤

❌The bad news deflated the stock price.
✅The bad news deflated investors' confidence.
💡Use this sense for people's feelings and emotions, not for prices or markets (use 'fall' or 'drop' instead).

4. To reduce the total amount of money in a country's economic system, usually as a

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

To reduce the total amount of money in a country's economic system, usually as a deliberate government action intended to lower or control prices.

例句

The central bank decided to deflate the economy by raising interest rates sharply.

deflate + economy

Government measures to deflate the currency caused export prices to become more competitive.

deflate + currency

同義詞
  • contract

    more general; can describe any economic shrinkage, not just deliberate policy

  • tighten

    commonly used with 'monetary policy' rather than directly with 'the economy'

反義詞
  • inflate

    in economic usage, to increase the money supply or cause prices to rise

文法句型

[government/bank] deflates [economy/currency]

用法筆記

Domain-specific to economics and government policy. The subject is typically a central bank, finance ministry, or government. This sense is the opposite of 'inflate' in economic contexts.