deflate
Translation
to let air out, to puncture, to reduce confidence, to cause deflation
Examples
He deflated the tyres on his bike.
He deflated the tires on his bike.
The criticism completely deflated his confidence.
The criticism completely deflated his confidence.
The government tried to deflate the economy.
The government tried to deflate the economy.
Grammar Patterns
to deflate ((sth.)) to let the air out of (sth.) He had to deflate the tire to repair it.
Similar Words
Synonyms: shrink, reduce, puncture; Antonyms: inflate, expand
Etymology
From 'de-' (down, away) + 'inflate' (to blow into). Literally 'to un-blow' or let the air out.
Memory Tips
Imagine the air 'de'-parting from a balloon, causing it to become flat.