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
Tight end Travis Kelce, for instance, deflected a red zone pass to a Philadelphia defender for the biggest play in a Week 2 loss to the Eagles.
—
Jesse Newell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Kuzmenko’s pass deflected off Fiala’s skate on the left doorstep and past Gustavsson for Fiala’s 15th of the season.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Its orange light is the result of an atmospheric effect called Rayleigh Scattering, wherein particles deflect the bluer wavelengths of light reflected from the lunar surface, while allowing redder wavelengths to pass through relatively unaffected.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Andrei Kuzmenko's pass deflected off Fiala's skate on the left doorstep and past Gurstavsson for Fiala's 15th of the season.
—CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflect
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Jesse Newell, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Kuzmenko’s pass deflected off Fiala’s skate on the left doorstep and past Gustavsson for Fiala’s 15th of the season.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Its orange light is the result of an atmospheric effect called Rayleigh Scattering, wherein particles deflect the bluer wavelengths of light reflected from the lunar surface, while allowing redder wavelengths to pass through relatively unaffected.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026
Andrei Kuzmenko's pass deflected off Fiala's skate on the left doorstep and past Gurstavsson for Fiala's 15th of the season.
—CBS News, 5 Jan. 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 9 Jan. 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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