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
Now as Proctor’s MSP disciplinary trial board hearing wrapped up on Thursday, his family released a statement in support of the trooper and accused Read’s defense team of using Proctor to deflect from evidence.
—
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
After the social media posts were put on display during the show — and Dina accused Carolina of deflecting accountability — Carolina began crying and had to step out of the taping entirely to take a moment for herself.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025
However, the unassuming Arnold deflects credit to Murphy for last season’s success.
—John Perrotto, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
But Repole deflects any praise, preferring to give credit for the turnaround to the University’s administration and especially the players and coach Rick Pitino, who has once again reinvigorated a team and fan base in his sixth decade as a head coach.
—Tim Casey, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 13 Mar. 2025
After the social media posts were put on display during the show — and Dina accused Carolina of deflecting accountability — Carolina began crying and had to step out of the taping entirely to take a moment for herself.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 11 Mar. 2025
However, the unassuming Arnold deflects credit to Murphy for last season’s success.
—John Perrotto, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
But Repole deflects any praise, preferring to give credit for the turnaround to the University’s administration and especially the players and coach Rick Pitino, who has once again reinvigorated a team and fan base in his sixth decade as a head coach.
—Tim Casey, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deflect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflect
Verb
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Francis’ Death Silences a Voice for the Voiceless As democratic values and alliances were being turned upside down, the pope was a consistent moral guidepost.—
Helene Cooper Jason Horowitz Claire Brown Maureen Cavanagh,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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What was supposed to be a revenge tour has turned into a stumble out of the gate.—
Brian Sampson,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The former mayor of Salzburg gave the project the go-head in 2024, but now a governmental skirmish has begun after the mayoral office swung from the political right to the left after an election.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
18 Apr. 2025
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The second player swings the ball across the top of the key to the second side.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The fourth plane, Flight 93, was diverted and crashed in Pennsylvania.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
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Passengers aboard a United Airlines flight were temporarily diverted from their destination after an incident with a rabbit affected the aircraft’s engine.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The federal government’s online hub for news and information on COVID-19, the disease that's killed over a million Americans, now redirects to a new White House website that blames China for the pandemic.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Aircraft that have been due for Chinese deliveries can be redirected to customers that are currently waiting in line for theirs.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That means the weather was ripe for fire, and wind gusts of up to 25 miles per hour quickly whipped the fire toward inhabited areas.—
Stephanie Pappas,
Scientific American,
23 Apr. 2025
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Lemony whipped ricotta teams up with sweet roasted beets in this vibrant spring salad.—
Wire Report,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflect. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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