DEFLECT: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for DEFLECT?

Need another word that means the same as “deflect”? Find 21 synonyms and 30 related words for “deflect” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Deflect” are: bend, turn away, distract, avert, avoid, debar, fend off, forefend, forfend, head off, obviate, stave off, ward off, block, parry, turn aside, divert, sidetrack, bounce, glance, ricochet

Deflect as a Verb

Definitions of "Deflect" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “deflect” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Turn aside and away from an initial or intended course.
• Cause (something) to change orientation.
• Cause (something) to change direction; turn aside from a straight course.
• Turn from a straight course, fixed direction, or line of interest.
• Cause (someone) to deviate from an intended purpose.
• (of an object) change direction after hitting something.
• Impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball.
• Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening.
• Draw someone's attention away from something.

Synonyms of "Deflect" as a verb (21 Words)

avert	Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening. Talks failed to avert a rail strike.
avoid	Contrive not to meet (someone. This route avoids downtown Boston.
bend	Bend one s back forward from the waist on down. Poppies bending in the wind.
block	Run on a block system. The government tried to block an agreement on farm subsidies.
bounce	Hit something so that it bounces. The ex boxer s job is to bounce people who want to enter this private club.
debar	Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening. They were debarred entry to the port.
distract	Disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed. Horror and doubt distract His troubl d thoughts.
divert	Reallocate (money or resources) to a different purpose. More of their advertising budget was diverted into promotions.
fend off	Try to manage without help.
forefend	Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening.
forfend	Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening. The fiend forfend said the grim Earl.
glance	Throw a glance at take a brief look at. She only glanced at the paper.
head off	To go or travel towards.
obviate	Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening. The presence of roller blinds obviated the need for curtains.
parry	Answer (a question or accusation) evasively. He parried questions from reporters outside the building.
ricochet	Appear to move with a series of ricochets. They fired off a couple of rounds ricocheting the bullets against a wall.
sidetrack	Divert (a well or borehole) to reach a productive deposit or to avoid an obstruction. The effort at reform has been sidetracked for years.
stave off	Kill intentionally and with premeditation.
turn aside	To send or let go.
turn away	Shape by rotating on a lathe or cutting device or a wheel.
ward off	Watch over or shield from danger or harm; protect.

Usage Examples of "Deflect" as a verb

• The compass needle is deflected from magnetic north by metal in the aircraft.
• The bullet was deflected harmlessly into the ceiling.
• The ball deflected off Knight's body.
• He attempted to deflect attention away from his private life.
• She refused to be deflected from anything she had set her mind on.
• He deflected his competitors.

Associations of "Deflect" (30 Words)

apophasis	Mentioning something by saying it will not be mentioned.
avert	Prevent or ward off (an undesirable occurrence. She averted her eyes while we made stilted conversation.
avoid	Not go to or through (a place. Avoid excessive exposure to the sun.
bypass	An alternative channel created during a bypass operation. A manager might bypass formal channels of communication.
carriage	A small vehicle with four wheels in which a baby or child is pushed around. A horse drawn carriage.
circumvent	Deceive; outwit. He s circumvented her with some of his stories.
circumvention	The act of evading by going around. Circumvention of the rules undermines any fairness.
derail	Run off or leave the rails. The train derailed because a cow was standing on the tracks.
deter	Try to prevent; show opposition to. Only a health problem would deter him from seeking re election.
detour	Avoid by taking a detour. He had made a detour to a cafe.
deviate	A person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior. Those who deviate from society s values.
digress	Wander from a direct or straight course. She always digresses when telling a story.
dodge	The dodging of a bell in change-ringing. Marchers had to dodge missiles thrown by loyalists.
elude	Escape, either physically or mentally. The logic of this eluded most people.
escape	Escape potentially unpleasant consequences get away with a forbidden action. That was a narrow escape.
eschew	Deliberately avoid using; abstain from. He appealed to the crowd to eschew violence.
evade	Use cunning or deceit to escape or avoid. Sleep still evaded her.
foreclose	Subject to foreclosing procedures; take away the right of mortgagors to redeem their mortgage. The bank was threatening to foreclose on his mortgage.
forestall	Buy up (goods) in order to profit by an enhanced price. He would have spoken but David forestalled him.
forfend	Protect (something) by precautionary measures. The sacrifice of Mississippi was forfended against even the treason of Wilkinson.
hinder	Hinder or prevent the progress or accomplishment of. The hinder part of a carcass.
obviate	Avoid or prevent (something undesirable. The presence of roller blinds obviated the need for curtains.
ostracize	(in ancient Greece) banish (an unpopular or overly powerful citizen) from a city for five or ten years by popular vote. She was declared a witch and ostracized by the villagers.
parry	An act of parrying something. The swords clashed in a parry.
preclude	Prevent from happening; make impossible. Your role in the projects precludes your involvement in the competitive project.
shun	Persistently avoid, ignore, or reject (someone or something) through antipathy or caution. He shunned fashionable society.
sidestep	A step taken sideways, typically to avoid someone or something. A boxercise workout that incorporates an intricate combination of sidesteps with left and right hooks.
undiagnosed	Eluding diagnosis. Some patients have diseases that go undiagnosed and therefore untreated.
veer	A sudden change of direction. The motorbike veered to the right.
wagon	A railway freight vehicle; a truck. A chip wagon.