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Definitions

deflection

[dih-flek-shuhn] / dɪˈflɛk ʃən /
NOUN
bend
Synonyms
STRONG
angle arc bending bow corner crook curvature deviation flection flexure hook lean loop round sag shift tack tilt turn twist yaw zigzag
WEAK
curvation
Antonyms
STRONG
stagnation
WEAK
line
NOUN
curvature
Synonyms
STRONG
arc arch bend bow curve flexure incurvation round shape
WEAK
arching curving curvity
Antonyms
STRONG
line
NOUN
departure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
change shift
STRONG
aberration declination difference digression divergence diversion innovation novelty turning variance variation veering wandering
WEAK
branching off branching out in thing last word latest thing new wrinkle rambling straying
Antonyms
STRONG
accord agreement conformity sameness similarity
WEAK
abidance arrival coming continuation entrance keeping stay
NOUN
deviation
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aberration alteration anomaly breach detour discrepancy disparity divergence diversion fluctuation inconsistency irregularity modification variance variation
STRONG
crotch difference digression fork shift transgression turning
WEAK
hereticism
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreement conformity consistency harmony normality regularity sameness similarity
WEAK
straightforwardness uniformity
NOUN
digression
Synonyms
STRONGEST
detour footnote
STRONG
apostrophe aside departure difference divagation divergence diversion drifting episode excursion excursus incident note parenthesis variation wandering
WEAK
discursion obiter dictum rambling
Antonyms
STRONG
accord agreement sameness similarity
WEAK
directness straightness
NOUN
divergence
Synonyms
STRONGEST
discrepancy disparity distinction diversity
STRONG
aberration alteration crotch departure detour deviation digression dissimilarity dissimilitude divagation divergency division fork mutation otherness parting radiation ramification separation turning unlikeness variety
WEAK
alterity disagreeing dissemblance varying
Antonyms
STRONGEST
sameness similarity
STRONG
conformity uniformity
WEAK
accord agreement concord convergence harmony
NOUN
diversion
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aberration departure detour deviation
STRONG
alteration digression divergence turning variation
WEAK
fake out red herring
NOUN
irrelevancy
Synonyms
STRONG
apostrophe aside departure detour deviation difference divagation divergence divergency diversion drifting episode excursion excursus footnote incident note parenthesis tangent variation wandering
WEAK
discursion obiter dictum rambling
Antonyms
STRONG
accord agreement conformity sameness similarity uniformity
NOUN
parenthesis
Synonyms
STRONG
apostrophe aside departure detour deviation difference divagation divergence divergency diversion drifting episode excursion excursus footnote incident irrelevancy note tangent variation wandering
WEAK
discursion obiter dictum rambling
Antonyms
STRONG
accord agreement conformity sameness similarity uniformity
NOUN
shift
Synonyms
STRONGEST
about-face alteration change conversion deviation move transfer transformation variation
STRONG
bend changeover displacement double fault modification passage permutation rearrangement removal shifting substitution tack transference transit translocation turn veering yaw
Antonyms
STRONGEST
idleness sameness stagnation
WEAK
deactivation maintenance
NOUN
slope
Synonyms
STRONGEST
hill ramp shelf
STRONG
abruptness bank bend bevel bias cant declination declivity descent deviation diagonal downgrade gradient inclination incline lean leaning obliqueness obliquity pitch rise skew steepness swag sway tip
WEAK
rising ground
Antonyms
STRONG
upgrade
WEAK
evenness level
NOUN
tack
Synonyms
STRONGEST
tangent
STRONG
aim alteration approach bearing bend deviation digression direction double echelon heading line method path plan procedure set shift siding sidling sweep swerve switch tactic turn variation way yaw zigzag
WEAK
oblique course point of sail
Antonyms
STRONG
stagnation
NOUN
turn
Synonyms
STRONGEST
departure shift twist
STRONG
alteration bend branch crotch detour deviation digression distortion divarication double fork modification mutation tack variation warp yaw
Antonyms
WEAK
failure inability miss stagnation
NOUN
variation
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abnormality alteration change deviation discrepancy disparity divergence diversity fluctuation innovation modification mutation shift variety
STRONG
aberration adaptation bend break contradistinction contrast curve departure digression displacement dissimilarity dissimilitude distinction diversification exception inequality novelty swerve turn
WEAK
departure from the norm unconformity
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreement harmony sameness similarity stagnation uniformity
STRONG
conformity continuation equality likeness line normality regularity
WEAK
root source

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even high-profile cases involving figures like Sean Combs reflect the same cultural reflex: disbelief, deflection, delay.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2026

They lost 21 of them but Tuesday’s was the most painful, with Roy scoring on a deflection in the crease.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Not to be outdone, Mayor Brandon Johnson gave a master class in deflection when asked if he would apologize to Gorman’s parents for her death.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

At 1-1, they pushed for a winner and got their reward, albeit with a slice of luck with the deflection off Joe Gomez.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

The experiment showed that most of the alpha particles passed through the foil with very slight deflection or none at all.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Vocabulary lists containing deflection

Snow Falling on Cedars

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