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
Powell Declines To Strike Back At Trump Powell fielded two questions regarding the high-profile criticism from Trump, and deflected both times.
—
Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
Chambers has spoken sparingly about the ordeal, often deflecting attention to protect her children, Harper and Ford.
—Jenna Dejong, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Niederreiter scored his first goal of the series, too, deflecting Dylan Samberg’s point shot, and then Appleton and Niederreiter combined to get Adam Lowry an empty net goal to make it 5-2 with 3:13 left in the game.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The president, however, deflected blame from the weak figures reflected in the first economic report card of his second term.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
Chambers has spoken sparingly about the ordeal, often deflecting attention to protect her children, Harper and Ford.
—Jenna Dejong, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Niederreiter scored his first goal of the series, too, deflecting Dylan Samberg’s point shot, and then Appleton and Niederreiter combined to get Adam Lowry an empty net goal to make it 5-2 with 3:13 left in the game.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The president, however, deflected blame from the weak figures reflected in the first economic report card of his second term.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflect
Verb
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Victor Ponta, a former leftist prime minister who has turned conservative nationalist, is ranked fourth but could prove a dark horse.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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There’s a camera grip that also attaches to the bottom of the case to turn the whole setup into something resembling a camera.—
Ben Sin,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Verb
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In between the European trips, Biden had swung back to the United States to be at home in Wilmington, Delaware, for the verdict of his son Hunter Biden's guns case trial.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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Happ’s oblique bothered him the most when attempting to swing.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Dozens of flights were diverted that afternoon, including to Allentown and Philadelphia.—
Daniel Wood,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
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The barriers and dams also diverted the lava flow towards a safe direction.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
9 May 2025
Verb
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At the Motion Picture Association, studio leaders brainstormed ideas to redirect his attention.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
14 May 2025
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That’s money the district can redirect into the classroom, Spencer said during a presentation.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Instead, as Gauff belied her recent struggles on her forehand side by whipping the ball up and down into the court and out of her opponent’s easy reach time and again, Świątek looked adrift.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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After the animal snapped and whipped its tail, Dragich wrangled the gator onto the shoulder of the highway.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflect. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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