Thesaurus results for DEFLECTING

deflecting

verb

present participle of deflect

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 With its available sun-deflecting bright-white fabric and huge garage door-like entryway, the tent makes for a natural day shelter for events out in the sun, rain and wind. — New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026 The Hawks guard got into the passing lanes, deflecting passes to teammates or collecting them himself. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Mendoza threw behind his receiver, the ball deflecting into the arms of the BC cornerback for a 23-yard return that led to McKenzie running it in from the 6. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Concha said Flanagan was deflecting responsibility despite serving as lieutenant governor. — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 18 Oct. 2026 Users can stow it in their pockets, then open it up and watch a movie on its matte, light-deflecting surface. — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Indeed, many have credited Lee Krasner with deflecting Pollock’s attention from Benton and focusing it on the great modern masters. — Barbara Rose, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026 Two experiments but same result The researchers operated the QPC in a weak-backscattering regime, allowing most quasiparticles to pass while randomly deflecting a small fraction. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026 But his actions here — deflecting accountability, being vague yet defensive about his own politics — and his history with Kraft suggest his sympathies might not lie with the causes his opening acts stand for. — Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflecting

Verb

America must become better at turning breakthrough ideas into products the world can afford.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
On October 24, 2006, Taylor Swift was released—the debut album by a 16-year-old with blonde curls, cowboy boots, and a special talent for turning heartbreak into hits.

— Ilaria Perrotta, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of turning

Verb

In September 2022, Brandon Sanchez, a member of the show cast, documented a riding lesson in an email to management and HR, describing Garcia berating riders and whipping a Friesian horse for an extended period.

— Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
By far, the easiest way to decongest my pores is whipping out one of the Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads and giving my T-zone a very proper run-through.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of whipping

Verb

In 1941, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power began diverting water from streams that feed the lake, sending it to the City of Angels via its controversial aqueduct.

— Josh Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
The producer, Marisa Polvino, accuses her former partners of breach of contract and fraud for allegedly diverting the project’s rights and development assets away from her production company.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of diverting

Verb

Only emergency vehicles will be permitted access, and law enforcement will be redirecting non-emergency traffic and assisting local residents, as needed.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 1 Nov. 2026
Gomez advocates redirecting funding away from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while Gonzales-Torres calls for abolishing ICE.

— Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of redirecting

Verb

Consequently, industry experts emphasize that underlying supply tightness remains unchanged, suggesting overnight crude price declines reflect short term market sentiment reactions to election results rather than shifting fundamentals.

— , CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
Proposition 50 slightly increased the district’s Democratic registration advantage while shifting its boundaries northward to include communities such as Huron, Riverdale, Caruthers, Kerman and San Joaquin.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of shifting

Browse Nearby Words

deflected

deflecting

deflection

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Deflecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflecting. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of deflecting

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quondam

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes