deflect
Verb
Verb Forms: deflected, deflecting, deflects
- To turn aside from a straight course.
- prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
- turn from a straight course, fixed direction, or line of interest
- turn aside and away from an initial or intended course
- draw someone's attention away from something
- "He deflected his competitors"
- impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)
- 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.
- To deviate from an original path or position.
- To avoid addressing (questions, criticism, etc.).
- To divert (attention, etc.).
- To redirect culpability to avoid it.
Examples
- He tried to deflect his opponent’s attention from the triple word score he was setting up.
- The defender deflected the cross into his own net.
- The Prime Minister deflected some increasingly pointed questions by claiming he had an appointment.
Origin / Etymology
From Latin deflecto, from de- (“away”) + flecto (“to bend”).
Synonyms
avert, avoid, bend, block, debar, distract, fend off, forefend, forfend, head off, obviate, parry, stave off, turn away, ward off, elude
Scrabble Score: 13
deflect: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Worddeflect: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
deflect: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary