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
Biden was surrounded by family members and longtime loyalists who were effective at deflecting and dismissing the inquiries as partisan attacks.
—
Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Understanding whether your partner takes accountability or deflects blame, listens without becoming defensive and genuinely works toward repair after fights is crucial.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Because neutrinos are not deflected by magnetic fields or by gravity, their direction of travel leads back to their source.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 May 2025
Dmitry Kulikov, who scored four times during the season, had the second goal, deflecting a shot off Scott Laughton.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Understanding whether your partner takes accountability or deflects blame, listens without becoming defensive and genuinely works toward repair after fights is crucial.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Because neutrinos are not deflected by magnetic fields or by gravity, their direction of travel leads back to their source.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 May 2025
Dmitry Kulikov, who scored four times during the season, had the second goal, deflecting a shot off Scott Laughton.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflect
Verb
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Trump faced charges related to keeping hundreds of classified documents and refusing to turn them over to the FBI while Biden was under investigation for retaining classified documents.—
Sarah D. Wire,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
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The nine-horse sprint turned into a four-horse battle by the final stretch and featured several lead changes.—
Taylor Lyons,
Baltimore Sun,
17 May 2025
Verb
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The president's team has now swung the pendulum in the opposite direction from five years ago, even attempting to rescind findings of constitutional violations in the cities where Floyd and Taylor lost their lives.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
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The momentum swung again on the next hole when Griffin saved par from behind a tree in the fairway and Schmid curiously aimed away from the hole with his ball plugged in a bunker, ended up in the rough and made bogey.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 May 2025
Verb
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External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
20 May 2025
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Kelly is diverting her eyes to the politics always in every film.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump has threatened to take away $3 billion in federal grants from Harvard University and redirect the money to trade schools, escalating a months-long battle with the Ivy League institution.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
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Voluntary exits create space to reshape teams and redirect talent without triggering the disruption, legal risk and political blowback that often come with forced terminations.—
Rita Numerof,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Verb
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Appropriately, those flags whipped atop the Hall of Fame building on a particularly windy Friday, hours before a 40-year ceremony for the 1985 team and a day prior to a 10-year reunion for the 2015 team.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
17 May 2025
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Made with 92 percent natural ingredients, the gentle, sulfate-free shampoo is whipped with tea tree and peppermint oils, which help create a healthy pH balance on the scalp and smell like a spa.—
Jenny Berg,
Allure,
17 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflect. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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