as in to turn
to change the course or direction of (something)
the wind deflected the Frisbee just as I was about to lunge for it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deflect
But Sam Bennett deflected a Carter Verhaeghe shot into the net, notching his team-leading eighth goal of the playoffs.
—
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2025
In the 42nd minute, Tottenham’s midfielder Pape Sarr whipped a right-footed cross into the area, with the ball deflecting off Man United’s Luke Shaw and then getting a slight touch from Spurs’ top scorer in all competitions.
—David Close, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
The game’s lone goal came when Yoshida inadvertently deflected a Sporting KC cross into his own net.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
On Monday, former Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who challenged Biden during the Democratic primary last year, accused Biden and his advisers of announcing the diagnosis to deflect from the scrutiny Biden has received in recent weeks.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2025
In the 42nd minute, Tottenham’s midfielder Pape Sarr whipped a right-footed cross into the area, with the ball deflecting off Man United’s Luke Shaw and then getting a slight touch from Spurs’ top scorer in all competitions.
—David Close, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
The game’s lone goal came when Yoshida inadvertently deflected a Sporting KC cross into his own net.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2025
On Monday, former Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), who challenged Biden during the Democratic primary last year, accused Biden and his advisers of announcing the diagnosis to deflect from the scrutiny Biden has received in recent weeks.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflect
Verb
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The first of these books predates the first Slow Horses novel by a few years — many of them have already been turned into films in Denmark — but the themes and tone are similar enough to appeal to anyone who’s fallen for Gary Oldman and company on the Apple spy series.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
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There’s also this: Auston Matthews has only three years remaining on his contract and will turn 28 later this fall.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Verb
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The president's team has now swung the pendulum in the opposite direction from five years ago, even attempting to rescind findings of constitutional violations in the cities where Floyd and Taylor lost their lives.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
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The momentum swung again on the next hole when Griffin saved par from behind a tree in the fairway and Schmid curiously aimed away from the hole with his ball plugged in a bunker, ended up in the rough and made bogey.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 May 2025
Verb
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However, some flights from Catania have been diverted to Palermo, according to Flight Radar Data.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
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All southbound Interstate 5 traffic was diverted off the freeway onto Camino de la Plaza, creating a detour on San Ysidro streets, Caltrans said on the social media platform X shortly before noon.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump has threatened to take away $3 billion in federal grants from Harvard University and redirect the money to trade schools, escalating a months-long battle with the Ivy League institution.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
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Voluntary exits create space to reshape teams and redirect talent without triggering the disruption, legal risk and political blowback that often come with forced terminations.—
Rita Numerof,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Verb
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This small kitchen appliance has a variable speed trigger switch to make blending, pureeing, frothing, whipping and chopping as easy as pressing a button.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2025
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The Clippers were playing in Houston and the Clippers were whipping the Rockets’ ass.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflect. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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