Definition of deflectnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of deflect Ted deflects the questions, but the friendly encounter only seems to make Alice dig in. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 Chemical sunscreen filters absorb UV rays, while the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in mineral sunscreens sit on the skin’s surface and physically deflect them. Alison Abbey Hudak, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026 Rather than simply reducing opponents’ health, players seek to break opponents’ posture by precisely deflecting and countering attacks. Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026 Rompola’s first opportunity to kill the whitetail failed when his arrow was deflected. Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deflect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflect
Verb
  • The notes of bergamot, pink mint, cedar, and musk turn this thinning hair treatment into a luxury form of self-care.
    Madison San Miguel, Allure, 5 Sep. 2026
  • This study was done at temperatures so low that even helium turns liquid.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • They are populated by characters who swing between extremes, people on the verge of disappearing one minute and of being too forward the next, either revealing too much or too little.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Steinem's version of feminism today is more aligned with Democrats at a time when, at least for now, the country has swung Republican.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The flight was forced to divert to Baltimore, where the man was removed from the plane and arrested on state charges, according to CBS.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Playwright Zimmerman, meanwhile, says the dispute has diverted attention from the subject the production was created to address.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • If someone dominates the conversation, redirect attention to what the group is trying to accomplish.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, El Palacio de Hierro in Mexico has redirected part of its open-to-buy to affordable luxury and entry price points to offset declines at the higher end.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Into the work, esparza’s has also added a scene from the Florentine Codex showing a Spaniard whipping an Indigenous person and images of ICE raids in LA and Chicago, connecting centuries of oppression together.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Many Hoosiers whip out their smartphones to pay for a latte or a drink at a bar.
    Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 2 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflect. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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