as in to turn
to change the course or direction of (something)
the wind deflected the Frisbee just as I was about to lunge for it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deflect
Moments after his team won the AFC Championship and advanced to Super Bowl LX to play the Seahawks, Vrabel deflected credit from himself.
—
Doug Kyed, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
And while criticism of insurance companies was bipartisan, Republicans and Democrats also blamed one another for the crisis, with the GOP faulting Obamacare and Democrats accusing Republicans of using the hearings to deflect from their own inaction to address rising premiums.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 22 Jan. 2026
Human Rights Watch says the government’s spending is aimed to deflect from its human rights record.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Nelson was crossing in front of Saros from right to left, but was able to deflect the shot with the shaft of his stick.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Doug Kyed, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2026
And while criticism of insurance companies was bipartisan, Republicans and Democrats also blamed one another for the crisis, with the GOP faulting Obamacare and Democrats accusing Republicans of using the hearings to deflect from their own inaction to address rising premiums.
—Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 22 Jan. 2026
Human Rights Watch says the government’s spending is aimed to deflect from its human rights record.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Nelson was crossing in front of Saros from right to left, but was able to deflect the shot with the shaft of his stick.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflect
Verb
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Researchers in Germany are set to turn green waste, hay and algae into fully biodegradable plastics.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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Together, these trends have turned industrial space into a cornerstone of national logistics and digital capacity.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After the automatic front doors swing guests into the lobby, an ironwork chandelier, olive-green velour curtains, and a humming fireplace dress the Hotel Chelsea in a confidently maximalist wardrobe.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
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Bend your knees slightly and swing the kettlebell back between your legs.—
RikkiLynn Shields Hannigan,
Health,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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But Barclays’ Levy warned Musk’s plans to publicly launch SpaceX could divert attention away from Tesla, either through splitting the Tesla retail investor base or diverting Musk’s own focus away from Tesla and onto SpaceX.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If ants are nesting inside, Messenger says aggressive caulking can redirect them deeper into the structure.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
28 Jan. 2026
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On the infrastructure front, Irvin said work will continue this year on the installation of a large stormwater pipe designed to redirect water out of the village and alleviate flooding.—
Daniel I. Dorfman,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Even then, though, leadership didn’t whip against the bill, which ultimately passed with seven Democrats voting in favor.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
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In an age when polarized politics have whipped extremists into a frenzy and disagreeing with someone’s views justifies physical assault among fringe elements, the assault on Omar is a new abysmal milestone of societal degradation.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflect. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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