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
Bennett’s goal would be needed ... because Ranger Alexis Lafreniere deflected in a teammate’s shot with 49 seconds left to make the final score and briefly give the home fans before at last The Mecca turned tomb-quiet save for the few Panthers fans reveling in red.
—
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 31 May 2024
Later, Royals second baseman Adam Frazier hit an infield single that was deflected into the shallow outfield.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2024
That doesn’t include Soler, who begins a rehab assignment with Sacrament tonight and could be back by Friday, ominously being struck by a foul ball during batting practice that deflected off the batting cage.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 15 May 2024
Grayson Murphy, an undrafted rookie from UCLA, deflected a screen pass, leading to an incompletion during 11-on-11 period….
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 28 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for deflect 
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 31 May 2024
Later, Royals second baseman Adam Frazier hit an infield single that was deflected into the shallow outfield.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 May 2024
That doesn’t include Soler, who begins a rehab assignment with Sacrament tonight and could be back by Friday, ominously being struck by a foul ball during batting practice that deflected off the batting cage.
—Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 15 May 2024
Grayson Murphy, an undrafted rookie from UCLA, deflected a screen pass, leading to an incompletion during 11-on-11 period….
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 28 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for deflect
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deflect.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Deflect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deflect. Accessed 13 Jun. 2024.
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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