as in swinging
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
Relevance
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 deflecting
Eclipses across your astrological axis (Virgo-Pisces) activate themes of independence versus commitment, asking you to honor your devotions without deflecting.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Crosby struck 15 seconds after that, deflecting a pass from the slot into the net.
—CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
Based on the previews, however, the obviousness of her selection is going to come up soon, and based on her tenure on RHOBH, Lisa has never been good at deflecting the heat.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
And Bennett pushed Florida’s lead up to 3-1 just 10 seconds into the third period by deflecting in a shot attempt from Brad Marchand on the opening shift of the final frame.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
His 200th career goal came with hulking Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns draped all over him, but still unable to stop a Zeev Buium pass from deflecting off Kaprizov and past Wedgewood for the equalizer.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 28 Nov. 2025
Another problem is that all the gaps, hinges, and deflecting surfaces for these control surfaces result in more drag, which reduces the aircraft's efficiency.
—New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2025
Forward Alex DeBrincat lit up the stat sheet with two goals and one assist, his first goal coming in a power play deflecting a shot from Mortiz Seider to give Detroit a 4-2 lead.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 14 Nov. 2025
Reading responded to most, with several players around Graves securing key takeaways, or deflecting passes to slow down the attack.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
Crosby struck 15 seconds after that, deflecting a pass from the slot into the net.
—CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
Based on the previews, however, the obviousness of her selection is going to come up soon, and based on her tenure on RHOBH, Lisa has never been good at deflecting the heat.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
And Bennett pushed Florida’s lead up to 3-1 just 10 seconds into the third period by deflecting in a shot attempt from Brad Marchand on the opening shift of the final frame.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
His 200th career goal came with hulking Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns draped all over him, but still unable to stop a Zeev Buium pass from deflecting off Kaprizov and past Wedgewood for the equalizer.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 28 Nov. 2025
Another problem is that all the gaps, hinges, and deflecting surfaces for these control surfaces result in more drag, which reduces the aircraft's efficiency.
—New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2025
Forward Alex DeBrincat lit up the stat sheet with two goals and one assist, his first goal coming in a power play deflecting a shot from Mortiz Seider to give Detroit a 4-2 lead.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 14 Nov. 2025
Reading responded to most, with several players around Graves securing key takeaways, or deflecting passes to slow down the attack.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflecting
Verb
-
All lighting on the Chief Vintage is LED, and the adaptive headlight can peek into corners while turning.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Google is rolling out major updates to Gemini in Chrome, turning the browser into an AI-powered assistant designed to help users multitask, browse faster, and complete complex online tasks with less effort.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said earlier Monday that his caucus would have a discussion on the contempt resolutions later in the week but remained noncommittal on whipping votes against them.—
Stephen Groves,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The safer one involved whipping once around the moon’s far side and then relying on lunar gravity to slingshot the spacecraft back to Earth.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
States have also faced pressure from those who believe support of this program could inhibit public schools by diverting funds.—
Lexi Lonas Cochran,
The Hill,
30 Jan. 2026
-
For many animals, making offspring means eating more, moving less and/or diverting energy away from growth and survival.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Microsoft is redirecting engineers to urgently fix Windows 11’s performance and reliability issues, aiming to halt the operating system’s death by a thousand cuts.—
Tom Warren,
The Verge,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The company's model allows organizations to extend, protect, and enhance functioning systems without mandatory upgrades, redirecting savings toward strategic priorities rather than following a vendor's timeline.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Brazil has gained on both commodity strength and shifting political expectations.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The shifting tectonic plates at both firms reflect a broader transformation in asset management.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deflecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflecting. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
