deflect
English · Thesaurus
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deflect
- /dɪˈflɛkt/ UK
Rhymes with -ɛkt
Where it comes from
From Latin deflecto, from de- (“away”) + flecto (“to bend”).
verb deflects · deflecting · deflected
- To make (something) deviate from its original path or position.
- To touch the ball, often unwittingly, after a shot or a sharp pass, thereby making it unpredictable for the other players. The defender deflected the cross into his own net.
- To deviate from an original path or position.
-
To avoid addressing (questions, criticism, etc.).
The Prime Minister deflected some increasingly pointed questions by claiming he had an appointment.
Similar: elude
- To divert (attention, etc.). Certainly there was much in the relationship itself that, with so much energy deflected into logistic maneuvering was never […] "worked out."
- To redirect culpability to avoid it.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: distract, turn away, ward off, stave off, avert, fend off, obviate, debar, avoid, draw away, head off, deviate, bend, parry, block, divert
Translations
Every language
verb to make deviate
| Español | desviar, rebatir, deflejar, deflexionar, deflectar |
|---|---|
| Français | détourner |
| Deutsch | ablenken |
| Русский | отклоня́ть otklonjátʹ, отклони́ть otklonítʹ |
verb to make a ball unpredictable
| Español | desviar |
|---|---|
| Português | desviar |
| Deutsch | abfälschen, abwehren |
verb to deviate
| Español | desviarse |
|---|---|
| Français | dévier |
| Deutsch | ausweichen, abweichen |
| Русский | отклоня́ться otklonjátʹsja, отклони́ться otklonítʹsja |
verb to avoid addressing questions, criticism etc.
| Deutsch | ausweichen |
|---|---|
| Русский | уклоня́ться uklonjátʹsja, уклони́ться uklonítʹsja |
verb to divert attention, etc.
| Deutsch | zerstreuen |
|---|
Talk about this word "deflect." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/deflect. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. deflect. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/deflect "deflect." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/deflect.Cite this
@misc{deflect_2026,
title = {deflect},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/deflect},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
