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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of deflected
A couple were fluky, like a strip-sack and an interception in the end zone deflected by a defender’s face mask.
—
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
This onslaught finally paid off with just over three minutes remaining in the opening frame after Colten Abcunas deflected a Rockets breakout pass and Ben Pachus found the loose puck and beat Brownridge below the glove to give Newton North a 1-0 lead.
—Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
When asked about Michael’s remarks in a recent Hollywood Reporter interview, Hudson deflected the question.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
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
The woman deflected the dagger away from her heart but was stabbed three times in the arm instead.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 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
For weeks, Pelosi had deflected questions about her political future, insisting her central focus was on ensuring that Prop 50 redistricting ballot measure passed in California.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2025
One idea suggests that the electron-positron pairs are deflected by weak intergalactic magnetic fields and that this bounces low-energy gamma-rays out of our line of sight.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
This onslaught finally paid off with just over three minutes remaining in the opening frame after Colten Abcunas deflected a Rockets breakout pass and Ben Pachus found the loose puck and beat Brownridge below the glove to give Newton North a 1-0 lead.
—Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
When asked about Michael’s remarks in a recent Hollywood Reporter interview, Hudson deflected the question.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Jan. 2026
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
The woman deflected the dagger away from her heart but was stabbed three times in the arm instead.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 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
For weeks, Pelosi had deflected questions about her political future, insisting her central focus was on ensuring that Prop 50 redistricting ballot measure passed in California.
—Lauren Peller, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2025
One idea suggests that the electron-positron pairs are deflected by weak intergalactic magnetic fields and that this bounces low-energy gamma-rays out of our line of sight.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflected
Verb
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At the end of Monday's live Atlas demonstration, the humanoid prototype swung its arms in a theatrical gesture to introduce a static model of the new product version of Atlas, which looked slightly different and was blue in color.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
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The Chiefs’ special teams also never swung the field with a return for a touchdown.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Bryant turned the ball over 17 times and allowed Jonesboro (13-7, 1-1) to score repeatedly in transition.—
Erick Taylor,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
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Owens turned herself into Long Beach police Wednesday, and she was booked on $200,000 bail.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While eating at the restaurant with her parents, Black begged for her own tasty drink and the bartender whipped one up, naming it after her.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
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Oversized boards and platters layered with cheeses, charcuterie, fresh produce, whipped butters and compotes serve as both menu and décor, encouraging guests to snack, wander, and eat at their own pace.—
Colleen Sullivan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sacramento police diverted traffic from N Street between Fifth and Sixth streets downtown as the march proceeded, Gamble said.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Hope Florida then diverted the money to political committees that spent most of it supporting the governor’s campaign against the recreational marijuana initiative that narrowly failed in 2024.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Traffic is being redirected after a crash shut down all eastbound lanes of the Eisenhower Expressway on Sunday afternoon.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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In the first minute of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes redirected a shot by Nikolaj Ehlers into his own net.—
Elise Devlin,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deflected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflected. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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