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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deflect
As such, its Stow boot retains practical features like a watertight Goodyear storm welt and a half bellows tongue that will further deflect rain.
—
Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
When asked about his own legacy — a question that comes up more frequently as tributes and retrospectives accumulate — Hawke deflects with characteristic self-awareness.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
These emails not only highlight Prince Andrew’s contradictory statements, but also suggest a disturbing willingness to deflect from the truth and evade accountability.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Spam, robocall, and phishing attempts are deflected away from your true identity, keeping you safe and private.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
When asked about his own legacy — a question that comes up more frequently as tributes and retrospectives accumulate — Hawke deflects with characteristic self-awareness.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
These emails not only highlight Prince Andrew’s contradictory statements, but also suggest a disturbing willingness to deflect from the truth and evade accountability.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Spam, robocall, and phishing attempts are deflected away from your true identity, keeping you safe and private.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflect
Verb
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Take a cue from Gal Gadot and scroll on for more sweater vests that will turn your fall layers into a Wonder Woman-worthy outfit.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
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Anastasia Soare is turning heads and raising brows.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Parsons signed a multiyear extension upon arrival and has already produced game‑changing pressure and splash plays that helped swing the second half in Pittsburgh, giving the Packers a top-tier pass rush to pair with Love’s ascending offense.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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When not in use, the flaps swing open, allowing the soldier to listen normally.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His double in the final — a cheeky free kick and a left-footed volley at the back-post — officially took his tournament tally up to five, but the Famalicao forward saw three further shots diverted into the net for own goals.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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The plan included launching a mobile booking station to quickly issue citations, stricter curfew and firearm enforcement, and increasing police presence by diverting patrol officers to high-traffic entertainment areas.—
Angelika Ytuarte,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Trimming off the old, dead stalk encourages the plant to redirect water and nutrients to new growth, allowing the orchid to develop a new flower stalk within several months.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 Oct. 2025
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Later, if the user pastes normally, they could be redirected to phishing sites and have sensitive log-in information stolen, including MFA (multifactor authentication) codes.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The photo of Chastain whipping off her jersey, shouting in triumph, her sinewy arms flexed, was immediately historic.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Oct. 2025
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Leafs forward Dakota Joshua weaved through Buffalo’s defensive zone coverage without much resistance and then whipped an off-balance shot toward the net.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflect. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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