Pronunciation coach
Deflect
Sounds like
dihflekt
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Simple meaning
What does Deflect mean?
Deflect means turn aside or avoid.
Dictionary definition
To turn something aside, or to avoid attention, blame, or a question.
Example sentences
Deflect in a sentence
easy
The shield helped deflect the ball.
medium
He tried to deflect the question with a joke.
hard
The curved surface was designed to deflect wind away from the entrance.
Synonyms
Words like Deflect
divertUse when something is turned in another direction.
redirectUse when sending something along a different path.
Antonyms
Opposite words
absorbUse when something takes in force or attention instead of turning it away.
faceUse when someone deals with something directly.
Word family
Deflect word family
Base word
deflect
verb
deflect
To turn aside or avoid.
verb
deflected
Turned aside or avoided in the past.
noun
deflection
The act of turning something aside.
Related words
Explore related words
Quick practice
Try Deflect
Practice 1
What does deflect mean?
Deflect means to turn something aside or avoid attention, blame, or a question.
Practice 2
Which sentence uses deflect correctly?
This sentence uses deflect to mean turn aside or reduce force.
Practice 3
Which word is closest in meaning to deflect?
Redirect means to send something in another direction, which is close to deflect.
Practice this skill
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Learning paths
- Define the Word Hive for word meanings.
- Synonym Search for word choice.
- Context Clue Challenge for sentence clues.
- Buzz Between for homophones and listening.
- Hive Builder for roots, prefixes, and suffixes.