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 Rompola’s first opportunity to kill the whitetail failed when his arrow was deflected. — Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026 Ryder Ajeto’s first touch in the box was deflected by a Florida defender, but Ajeto followed the ball and scored from eight yards to produce the final 3-1 margin. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 Griezmann back-heeled a shot that was deflected and then tapped in the loose ball to give Orlando City a 2-1 lead in the 81st. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026 Smith connected with six different receivers on his seven passes, completing all of them (one was deflected and landed in left guard Dylan Parham’s hands). — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 22 Aug. 2026 Washington also scored on a Dylan Crews RBI double in the fifth that deflected off the glove of a diving Esteury Ruiz in shallow right-center field. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026 The operational metrics, adoption and tickets deflected stats sit with IT or the business unit, while finance owns the financial side. — Mark Tauschek, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 The veteran delivered for the Sox with a single that deflected off the glove of diving shortstop Kevin McGonigle and trickled into left field. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deflected
  1. swung
  2. turned
  3. whipped
  4. diverted
  5. redirected
Verb
  • Instead, the chief executive said Hilton's middle- and upper-middle segments have swung from posting negative numbers to growing at rates as high as 6%.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The bond market swung Friday as investors built bets that the Federal Reserve may hike interest rates soon to get the nation’s high inflation under control.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of swung
Verb
  • The last act before festival founder Olivia Rodrigo, Roan turned it out with all of her powers—bolstered by a bold and bitchy, razor-sharp bob.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The maps revealed that a chronic problem had turned critical.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of turned
Verb
  • Deploying everything from pickled green strawberries and fresh peas to whipped labneh with Banyul vinegar glaze, artful Viennoiserie evokes more than a little whimsy that spans sweet and savory.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
  • If a recipe calls for 1 cup (unwhipped) whipping cream, substitute 2 cups whipped dessert topping, such as Cool Whip.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of whipped
Verb
  • Medical experts say the uproar has diverted focus from an exploding public health threat.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Tax allocation districts are designated areas where a certain amount of property tax revenue growth is diverted away from governments and used to fund specific improvements within that district.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of diverted
Verb
  • Traffic from northbound lanes will be redirected to Langford Parkway, and then through the city on I-75/85 north, and back on I-20 west to rejoin I-285.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Officials also need to sign off on additional formal steps, such as issuing the bonds and setting the boundaries from which portions of tax revenue would be redirected as economic activity goes up within the area.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 24 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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