Thesaurus results for DEFLECT

deflect

verb

di-ˈflekt

Definition of deflect

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

Relevance

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 deflect Jack is softly spoken and keen to deflect talk from his own heroics in the semi-final. — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026 Two experiments but same result The researchers operated the QPC in a weak-backscattering regime, allowing most quasiparticles to pass while randomly deflecting a small fraction. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026 Delane also had a tackle for a 5-yard loss and deflected a pass. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026 Sterling says Trump seems to be laying groundwork to deflect blame if Republicans lose. — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deflect

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflect

Verb

The service The service here is a nod to the turn-of-the-last-century where waiters and barmen wear starched white dinner jackets and a pianist serenades your cocktails in a grand salon.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Hidden Planet is the latest in the canon, this time turning the micro-cameras on the world of insects.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of turn

Verb

When the Spider swings past a silverish-gray newsstand filled with copies of the Daily Bugle, the frame becomes black-and-white, even in the color version.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
There was no notice to staff that swings in blood sugar levels can cause the kind of emotional distress and behavioral outbursts that got Christian in trouble.

— Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of swing

Verb

Regional traffic will be redirected to roads such as Southwest 10th Street, Powerline Road, Dixie Highway and Sample Road, and local traffic will be redirected along Military Trail and Northeast Third Avenue.

— Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
Black box data and the position of the controls in the cockpit show the speed brakes and thrust reversers, which redirect air to slow the plane, were not used.

— Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of redirect

Verb

In whipping rain and wind in New Jersey, the New York Giants held on for a 12-7 win in their first game since quarterback Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Sep. 2026
Castro whips her head around and follows him, punching him in the back.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of whip

Browse Nearby Words

deflations

deflect

deflected

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflect. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of deflect

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes