as in swung
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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Recent Examples of deflected
In the second period, after Foligno’s tying goal, Tarasenko scored his 23rd goal and seventh in the past 11 games on a backdoor tap-in after Ryan Hartman deflected Jared Spurgeon’s shot.
—
Michael Russo, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Zadorov took advantage of some legal interference from McAvoy and fired a puck on net that Geekie deflected home.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Burns’ wrister through traffic deflected off Kelly, then off a Blues defender and goalie Joel Hofer to equalize the game at 1-1.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The Galaxy had several chances to even the score, starting in the 79th minute when a rebound from a Pec shot deflected to João Klauss, whose try was high, then again a minute later when no fewer than five players touched the ball inside the six-yard box before Callender grabbed it.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Boldy’s spot atop the Wild scoring chart lasted barely a minute, as Kaprizov deflected a Ryan Hartman shot past the goalie for his own 41st goal and the visitors’ first lead.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
Cade Cowell, on the counter-attack, played a low cross from the right side to a charging Hall for a first-touch finish that deflected off goalkeeper Evan Louro and rolled into the net to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Kempe finally got the Kings going when Artemi Panarin's 51st assist deflected in off his skate, but Stamkos scored just over two minutes later.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Slowly, the team chipped away at the deficit, but the game-winning play didn’t come until Duke’s Cayden Boozer had a pass deflected by Mullins, who then sank the desperate logo-3.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Michael Russo, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Zadorov took advantage of some legal interference from McAvoy and fired a puck on net that Geekie deflected home.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
Burns’ wrister through traffic deflected off Kelly, then off a Blues defender and goalie Joel Hofer to equalize the game at 1-1.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The Galaxy had several chances to even the score, starting in the 79th minute when a rebound from a Pec shot deflected to João Klauss, whose try was high, then again a minute later when no fewer than five players touched the ball inside the six-yard box before Callender grabbed it.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Boldy’s spot atop the Wild scoring chart lasted barely a minute, as Kaprizov deflected a Ryan Hartman shot past the goalie for his own 41st goal and the visitors’ first lead.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
Cade Cowell, on the counter-attack, played a low cross from the right side to a charging Hall for a first-touch finish that deflected off goalkeeper Evan Louro and rolled into the net to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead.
—CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
Kempe finally got the Kings going when Artemi Panarin's 51st assist deflected in off his skate, but Stamkos scored just over two minutes later.
—ABC News, 3 Apr. 2026
Slowly, the team chipped away at the deficit, but the game-winning play didn’t come until Duke’s Cayden Boozer had a pass deflected by Mullins, who then sank the desperate logo-3.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflected
Verb
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Most recently, Verbeek swung a deadline deal for longtime Washington defenseman John Carlson, who has scored 12 points in 13 games during Anaheim’s playoff charge.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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Gold prices have swung between historic highs and lower levels since late 2025, as geopolitical tensions and trade concerns have prompted some investors toward the safe-haven asset.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Wolverines had only three swats against Arizona, but that was a 91-73 win in a game that was supposed to be the best of the tournament but turned into something else.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Entryway closets in the hotel's suites were turned into mini kitchenettes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the Palm Springs North community on Tuesday, the tornado whipped across a lake and a couple of residential blocks, according to weather service meteorologist Ana Torres-Vazquez.—
Sofia Saric,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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As the Orion capsule whipped around the back side of the moon Monday, Earth was out of sight — and the crew was unable to communicate to Mission Control for about 40 minutes due to the moon blocking a connection to the Deep Space Network.—
Brendan Byrne,
NPR,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Military under severe strain The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) last month diverted a combat battalion from the northern border with Lebanon to the West Bank amid the wartime surge in settler violence.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
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The Midgett crew was diverted from a patrol mission in the region, the Coast Guard said.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Wardrip redirected the conversation to the triple homicide.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Motorists who miss the Vermont ramp will be directed to take 9th street and redirected through Bryant Street, re-entering the freeway at the 5th Street on-ramp.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deflected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflected. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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