deflected; deflecting; deflects
: to turn (something) aside especially from a straight course or fixed direction
armor that deflects bullets
deflecting attention from the troubled economy
deflect a question
: to turn aside : deviate
the shot deflected off the goalie's shoulder pad
Examples of deflect in a Sentence
armor that can deflect bullets
The goalie deflected the ball with his hands.
The ball deflected off the goalie's shoulder.
They are trying to deflect attention from the troubled economy.
The blame was deflected from the chairman.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lettieri deflected in Oesterle’s shot for his second goal in two games.
—
Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Josh Morrissey’s wrister went off the leg of Gabriel Vilardi, who was standing at the front left side of Blackwood, and the puck deflected into the net.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2025
Nelly, who performed at the Liberty Ball, attempted to deflect criticism by framing his decision as respect for the office of the presidency rather than the man occupying it.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 20 Jan. 2025
Why does the man seen in an ATM photo with Mack’s bank card have an earring with a dangling cross, just like the one in your arrest photo from earlier that day?
Wallace kept deflecting.
—Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deflect 
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Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025
Josh Morrissey’s wrister went off the leg of Gabriel Vilardi, who was standing at the front left side of Blackwood, and the puck deflected into the net.
—Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 22 Jan. 2025
Nelly, who performed at the Liberty Ball, attempted to deflect criticism by framing his decision as respect for the office of the presidency rather than the man occupying it.
—Shelby Stewart, Essence, 20 Jan. 2025
Why does the man seen in an ATM photo with Mack’s bank card have an earring with a dangling cross, just like the one in your arrest photo from earlier that day?
Wallace kept deflecting.
—Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deflect
Dictionary Entries Near deflect
Cite this Entry
“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deflect. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deflect
verb
de·flect
di-ˈflekt 
: to turn or cause to turn aside (as from a course, direction, or position)
a bullet deflected by striking a wall
deflection
noun
-ˈflek-shən
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