deflected

verb

past tense of deflect
as in swung
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

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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 deflected The president also has deflected criticism of their impact on consumer prices by claiming erroneously that foreigners pay for them. — Kent Jones, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026 Tyrese Spicer played him in on the counter, and Pašalić’s low left-footed shot from outside the box deflected off Iván Rodríguez and into the net. — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 Both passes deflected off a player, the first off WR Terrace Marshall and the second off WR Tutu Atwell. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 Penix’s lone misstep was a near-interception to safety Xavier Watts, who ranged to his left and deflected a pass thrown slightly behind receiver Chris Blair. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Dugger also had a would-be pick-six Wednesday on an Adrian Martinez pass deflected by Jones. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 Driscoll deflected questions about the nation’s munitions stockpiles. — Konstantin Toropin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 Driscoll deflected questions about the nation's munitions stockpiles. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 Here, a source of primordial terror—the gaze that petrifies—is deflected by way of the highly polished shield that Perseus wields against the creature. — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflected
  1. swung
  2. turned
  3. whipped
  4. diverted
  5. redirected
Verb
  • The inning should have been over after Bo Bichette swung on a bouncing pitch that went back to the backstop, but Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz threw the ball past first base, and Bichette was safe.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • But this game’s hinges swung the other way when the Padres turned things around against Gavin Williams and Michael King turned things around against the Guardians.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of swung
Verb
  • The offer of a trial from Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson that eventually turned into a short-term contract until January 2025 proved the merits of all that hard work.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Crews are also using steam to remove blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of turned
Verb
  • Arcila scored with a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the 50th, then whipped the go-ahead goal past Óscar García for his fourth goal of the tournament.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The bullet apparently whipped across the cab and struck Salgado in the stomach.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • However, incoming emergency room traffic was temporarily diverted to other hospitals, Derderian said.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Doing so would require state legislation, since the special property tax levy for teacher pensions can’t be diverted to CPS operations without a change in law.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of diverted
Verb
  • The statistics do not suggest that the tariffs have simply redirected passenger-vehicle trade to different ports or different countries.
    — Ken Roberts, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Ford struck a concrete barrier and was redirected to the left, forcing the car to travel across all northbound lanes.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of redirected

Browse Nearby Words

deflect
deflected
deflecting
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Cite this Entry

“Deflected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deflected. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on deflected

Nglish: Translation of deflected for Spanish Speakers

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