Thesaurus results for DEFLECTS

deflects

verb

present tense third-person singular of deflect

as in turns

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of deflects Porsha deflects, saying Drew ruined the mood. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 29 June 2026 Root deflects credit for its hilarity. — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 16 June 2026 My aunt is easily offended and deflects any criticism, while my dad avoids confrontation at any cost. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 11 June 2026 Maxey tries to create an advantage but cannot, and Bridges, with those never-ending arms, deflects the bounce and gets the steal. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 15 May 2026 Christian therapists now widely condemn this as spiritual gaslighting that deflects accountability and compounds trauma. — Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026 But Herb deflects any praise that comes his way. — Greg Riddle, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026 Takyiwaa Manuh, an emerita professor at the University of Ghana, argues that targeting the LGBTQ community deflects attention from issues of poor governance. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026 Yas deflects her concerns as naivete. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflects

Verb

Everything the man is touching nowadays turns into gold for him and rot for the rest of us, a curse any smart person would avoid.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
If the sky turns ominous and thunder can be heard, find a secure place for shelter.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026

Definition of turns

Verb

Beat a prime Holloway at 170, though, and the door swings back open to the paydays he's chased since the rematch became official.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Winnebago foregoes the floor-to-ceiling sliding or rotating wall (or entire room) some manufacturers install in favor of a partial wall that swings the sink over top the toilet to clear out the shower.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026

Definition of swings

Verb

De-extinction, in this line of thought, diverts vital resources from these more important conservation efforts.

— Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026
Reuters reported in July 2025 that independent publishers filed an EU antitrust complaint against Google’s AI Overviews, arguing that the feature diverts traffic and revenue.

— Esade Business & Law School, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of diverts

Verb

Instead of floating crosses in, Saka either whips his deliveries low near the six-yard box or works a slightly more central position to cut the ball back with a firmer connection.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 26 June 2026
The vessel bends, blocks, and whips the wind into complex micro-currents before the air ever hits the sails.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026

Definition of whips

Verb

Deadheading keeps flowers from using energy to go to seed, and redirects it toward more growth.

— Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 8 July 2026
This landmark judgment preserves core American self-governance and redirects future immigration policy discussions to Congress and voters.

— Andy J. Semotiuk, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of redirects

Verb

Instead, Orton leans into the immersive, dreamy sounds of Weather Alive to craft a new album that veers more closely toward late-night jazz clubs than music for the spacey set.

— David Harris, SPIN, 29 June 2026
That last flavor is augmented by the whiskey’s higher proof, which veers toward burn but pulls back at the last minute.

— Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 28 June 2026

Definition of veers

Browse Nearby Words

deflections

deflects

defoliate

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“Deflects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflects. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of deflects

verb

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