deflected; deflecting; deflects
1
: to cause (something) to change direction especially from a straight course
armor that deflects bullets
deflecting attention from the troubled economy
deflect a question
2
: to keep (something, as a question) from affecting or being directed at a person or thing
was able to deflect criticism
: to hit something and change direction
the shot deflected off the goalie's shoulder pad
Examples of deflect in a Sentence
armor that can deflect bullets
The goalie deflected the ball with his hands.
The ball deflected off the goalie's shoulder.
They are trying to deflect attention from the troubled economy.
The blame was deflected from the chairman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lundell's Florida Panthers teammate Sam Reinhart deflected a Cale Makar shot from the point to get rid of that goose egg for the Canadians.
—
Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Captain Hilary Knight positioned herself in the slot, back to the net, and deflected Laila Edwards shot from the point, screening the goalie and tipping the puck back between her skates and into the net to send the game to overtime.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Knight deflected the puck into the net, tying the game.
—The Sports Desk, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
The Canadians struck with a shorthanded goal from Kristin O’Neill early in the second period, and that held up until Knight deflected a shot from the point by Laila Edwards to tie the score.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflect
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Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 Feb. 2026
Captain Hilary Knight positioned herself in the slot, back to the net, and deflected Laila Edwards shot from the point, screening the goalie and tipping the puck back between her skates and into the net to send the game to overtime.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 20 Feb. 2026
Knight deflected the puck into the net, tying the game.
—The Sports Desk, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026
The Canadians struck with a shorthanded goal from Kristin O’Neill early in the second period, and that held up until Knight deflected a shot from the point by Laila Edwards to tie the score.
—Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Cite this Entry
“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deflect. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deflect
verb
de·flect
di-ˈflekt 
: to turn or cause to turn aside (as from a course, direction, or position)
a bullet deflected by striking a wall
deflection
noun
-ˈflek-shən
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