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

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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 This gap, if unaddressed, sabotages growth by deflecting feedback, creating imbalanced traits, and causing behavioral drift under pressure, negatively impacting teams. — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Hitler escaped the full force of the blast when someone moved the briefcase next to a table leg, deflecting much of the explosive force. — ABC News, 21 July 2026 If praise arrives, accept it instead of deflecting, then point to the next milestone. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026 The ensuing chaos led to Abduvohid Nematov deflecting the ball into his own net. — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026 Maryland’s political class seems all too comfortable deflecting blame onto utility providers. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 8 July 2026 Malik Tillman stepped up and coolly scored on the free kick, his shot deflecting into the net off a Belgian player who was jumping as part of a wall. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 7 July 2026 De Ketelaere again pressured Freese, deflecting the ball back to Hans Vanaken who had an open net to shoot at. — Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 The sequence started with Bosnian defender Stjepan Radeljic sliding in front of a Tillman pass, deflecting it forward toward Muharemovic. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflecting
  1. turning
  2. whipping
  3. diverting
  4. redirecting
  5. shifting
Verb
  • Write the honest sentence, take the quiet walk, and tell the truth without decorating it for comfort or turning it into a joke today.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
  • If a state takes a position contrary to Beijing’s interests, China can tighten the screws on it by withholding spare parts, software updates, and technicians, turning a commercial partnership into a tool of leverage.
    — Natalia Cote-Muñoz, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of turning
Verb
  • Battered cars with numbers sprayed on their sides are whipping around the dirt track of the Lebanon Valley Speedway, loose fenders flopping like overgrown bangs in the swirling dust.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Iguanas usually go viral for other reasons Iguanas are usually quick-moving and run away from their would-be captors with their long tails whipping behind them.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 24 July 2026
Definition of whipping
Verb
  • An off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen fired at Williams as the incident unfolded, diverting him from the restaurant in an effort that likely saved lives.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Officials said both fired at Williams during what authorities described as a chaotic and fast-moving attack, diverting his attention from the restaurant as customers and employees fled.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of diverting
Verb
  • International games further complicate this financial landscape, redirecting tax obligations.
    — Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The turbulence pushes unwanted particles away from the coral’s surface while redirecting nutrients toward polyps’ mouths.
    — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of redirecting
Verb
  • Plants and animals keenly sense the diminishing light, which acts as a master biological clock that triggers changes such as migration, shifting hormone levels and winter coat growth.
    — Charles Seabrook, AJC.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The competitive edge is shifting from raw model intelligence to efficient operations, specialized data, and infrastructure control.
    — Gerui Wang, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of shifting

Browse Nearby Words

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deflecting
deflection
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Cite this Entry

“Deflecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflecting. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deflecting

Nglish: Translation of deflecting for Spanish Speakers

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