Meaning & use
deflect
Last updated
to cause something to change direction, especially by intercepting it, or to turn aside criticism, attention, or blame.
See it in a sentence
The goalkeeper deflected the shot just wide of the post.
He tried to deflect questions about the missing funds by changing the subject.
A note on using this word
Used both literally, for physical objects, and figuratively, for avoiding blame or unwanted attention.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “deflect”, then compare your use with the examples above.