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
The Bulls got the equalizer in the 19th minute when David Duran took a corner kick that was headed out by a Royal defender right to Contreras, the Championship Game MVP, who took a hard shot from 10 yards out that deflected off the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
—
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
Before that, Heiskanen had hit the puck that deflected off the stick of Joel Ericksson Ek into the face of the Minnesota center who left the ice and also didn't return the game.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Before that, Heiskanen had hit the puck that deflected off the stick of Joel Ericksson Ek into the face of the Minnesota center who left the ice and also didn’t return the game.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
The second goal came on fourth-liner Colin Blackwell’s snap shot way out that deflected in off a Wild defender.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflect
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Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2026
Before that, Heiskanen had hit the puck that deflected off the stick of Joel Ericksson Ek into the face of the Minnesota center who left the ice and also didn't return the game.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Before that, Heiskanen had hit the puck that deflected off the stick of Joel Ericksson Ek into the face of the Minnesota center who left the ice and also didn’t return the game.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
The second goal came on fourth-liner Colin Blackwell’s snap shot way out that deflected in off a Wild defender.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 10 Apr. 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 16 Apr. 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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