English Reference
Verb

deflated

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /dɪˈfɫeɪtɪd/ UK /diːflˈeɪtɪd/ de·flat·ed Economics

v.to lose value or strength suddenly. You use this when a price, a market, or a feeling like confidence drops quickly.

v.to lose value, strength, or importance suddenly and significantly. Often describes economic assets or emotional states like confidence.


SIMPLE

The stock market deflated after the bad news.

CONTEXTUAL

After the company announced its quarterly losses, the value of its shares deflated by over twenty percent in a single day.

COMPLEX

The sudden deflation of the housing bubble led to a nationwide economic crisis, as property values plummeted and banks faced massive defaults on mortgages.

The dinghies, that officials say measure approximately 9m (29ft), are deflated and mainly packaged up in cardboard boxes.

BBC News· 18 Aug 2026

He’s back home, post-graduation, and the surviving uni purchases are all over the house: deflated duvets, half-melted spatulas, singed tea towels.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated