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
Powell Declines To Strike Back At Trump Powell fielded two questions regarding the high-profile criticism from Trump, and deflected both times.
—
Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
Chambers has spoken sparingly about the ordeal, often deflecting attention to protect her children, Harper and Ford.
—Jenna Dejong, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Niederreiter scored his first goal of the series, too, deflecting Dylan Samberg’s point shot, and then Appleton and Niederreiter combined to get Adam Lowry an empty net goal to make it 5-2 with 3:13 left in the game.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The president, however, deflected blame from the weak figures reflected in the first economic report card of his second term.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
Chambers has spoken sparingly about the ordeal, often deflecting attention to protect her children, Harper and Ford.
—Jenna Dejong, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 May 2025
Niederreiter scored his first goal of the series, too, deflecting Dylan Samberg’s point shot, and then Appleton and Niederreiter combined to get Adam Lowry an empty net goal to make it 5-2 with 3:13 left in the game.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 1 May 2025
The president, however, deflected blame from the weak figures reflected in the first economic report card of his second term.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 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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Happ’s oblique bothered him the most when attempting to swing.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
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In between the European trips, Biden had swung back to the United States to be at home in Wilmington, Delaware, for the verdict of his son Hunter Biden's guns case trial.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Armed with doctored invoices, the fraudsters impersonate the staff of legitimate companies in order to divert cargo into the hands of criminals.—
Courtney Reagan,Scott Zamost,
CNBC,
9 May 2025
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Dozens of flights were diverted that afternoon, including to Allentown and Philadelphia.—
Daniel Wood,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
Verb
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At the Motion Picture Association, studio leaders brainstormed ideas to redirect his attention.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
14 May 2025
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That’s money the district can redirect into the classroom, Spencer said during a presentation.—
Silas Allen,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 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 21 May. 2025.
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