Definitions and Examples of deflate, shrink, reduce
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To release air or gas from something, causing it to become smaller or less inflated.
Example
He used a needle to deflate the basketball that was overinflated.
To become smaller in size or amount.
Example
The sweater shrank in the wash and no longer fit her.
To make something smaller or less in quantity, degree, or intensity.
Example
The company had to reduce its workforce due to financial difficulties.
Key Differences: deflate vs shrink vs reduce
- 1Deflate is specifically related to releasing air or gas from something, while shrink and reduce are more general terms that can refer to any decrease in size or quantity.
- 2Shrink implies a natural or gradual decrease in size, while reduce can refer to intentional or unintentional decrease in quantity or intensity.
- 3Reduce can also be used in a positive sense, such as reducing waste or reducing stress, while deflate and shrink do not have positive connotations.
Effective Usage of deflate, shrink, reduce
- 1Economics: Use reduce to describe a decrease in prices, production, or demand.
- 2Sports: Use deflate to describe the act of releasing air from a ball or tire.
- 3Cooking: Use shrink to describe food that has decreased in size during cooking or baking.
Remember this!
The antonyms of inflating are deflate, shrink, and reduce. Deflate is specific to releasing air or gas, while shrink and reduce are more general. Shrink implies a natural decrease, while reduce can be intentional or unintentional. Use these words in different contexts such as economics, sports, and cooking to convey the opposite meaning of inflating.
