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
These cybercriminals are like the Hollywood movie character Jason Bourne, a highly surreptitious operative who avoids detection through diversion, disguises, deflecting and blending into the environment.
—
Eric Herzog,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The ball never reached Pepi, deflecting off Australia defender Cameron Burgess and into the Socceroos’ net for an own-goal.
—
Andrew Destin,
Fortune,
20 June 2026
Canada is up 5-0 in the 75th minute after Qatar's Mohammad Al Manai went to clear a shot on goal by Jacob Shaffelburg, only to end up deflecting it into the net for yet another goal for Canada.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
The ball never reached Pepi, deflecting off Australia defender Cameron Burgess and into the Socceroos’ net for an own-goal.
—
Arkansas Online,
19 June 2026
Judd is great at deflecting studio notes.
—
Simon Bland,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Santillan went back out for the ninth, deflecting one ball to second baseman Edwin Arroyo for the first out of the inning, then got hit by a comebacker that deflected into the outfield for a single.
—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
At the Discovery Building, however, this wasn’t possible, so Broughton instead designed a huge wind deflector that channels gusts over the roof before deflecting them down the facade, pushing snow away from the building’s base.
—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
25 May 2026
He was usually found near the net, either deflecting shots or scrambling for loose pucks, putting his body on the line.
—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Eric Herzog,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
The ball never reached Pepi, deflecting off Australia defender Cameron Burgess and into the Socceroos’ net for an own-goal.
—
Andrew Destin,
Fortune,
20 June 2026
Canada is up 5-0 in the 75th minute after Qatar's Mohammad Al Manai went to clear a shot on goal by Jacob Shaffelburg, only to end up deflecting it into the net for yet another goal for Canada.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
The ball never reached Pepi, deflecting off Australia defender Cameron Burgess and into the Socceroos’ net for an own-goal.
—
Arkansas Online,
19 June 2026
Judd is great at deflecting studio notes.
—
Simon Bland,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Santillan went back out for the ninth, deflecting one ball to second baseman Edwin Arroyo for the first out of the inning, then got hit by a comebacker that deflected into the outfield for a single.
—
C. Trent Rosecrans,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
At the Discovery Building, however, this wasn’t possible, so Broughton instead designed a huge wind deflector that channels gusts over the roof before deflecting them down the facade, pushing snow away from the building’s base.
—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
25 May 2026
He was usually found near the net, either deflecting shots or scrambling for loose pucks, putting his body on the line.
—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflecting
Verb
-
Given modern advances, many organizations are turning towards auto-triaging by AI services and other digital tools to help ease the burden for physicians.
-
Then he got caught up in the race to perform at certain festivals and venues, turning his career into a checklist.
Verb
-
Ospreay struck Strickland, who responded by whipping a chain at him.
-
Vargas is accused of repeatedly whipping the cab’s hood with a belt, denting it, cops said.
Verb
-
Closing the Manhattan Bridge, diverting traffic, and managing the safety of staging a zombie apocalypse downtown required the cooperation and manpower of multiple agencies with their own sets of pressing priorities and responsibilities.
-
Fable mitigates this by diverting sensitive requests to less powerful models.
Verb
-
Policymakers have concluded that universities must respond more quickly to labor market demands by redirecting students toward sectors expected to experience sustained growth.
-
Haaland slammed home Norway’s second then doubled up, redirecting a cross past Mendy.
Verb
-
Despite the extra funding, the budget continues a trend of relying on reserves, shifting funds, borrowing and suspending debt payments to balance state spending.
-
Its advanced traction control and adaptive gait algorithms enable secure movement across slippery, loose, or shifting surfaces, including gravel, sand, wet metal grating, and cluttered factory floors.
Cite this Entry
“Deflecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflecting. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
