Showing results for deflecting. Search instead for deflecting+force.

deflecting

VERB

bounce off; turn aside

Synonyms

STRONGEST

avert bend cover up divert hook pivot ricochet slip swerve veer whip

STRONG

curve deviate disperse diverge fend parry sheer shy sidetrack slew twist wheel whirl wind

WEAK

glance off hold off keep off volte-face

Antonyms

STRONGEST

stay straighten

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.

Tuchel has spent recent months deflecting debate about whether Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa should take England's number 10 role when the stakes are at their highest.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

When they arrive, the planet's magnetic field acts as a shield, deflecting most of the charged particles.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

“I just have to focus on the game,” he said, deflecting from the narrative.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2025

Like an overwhelmed air traffic control system deflecting near misses, the U.S. blood-supply system often gets the job done with a surprisingly slim margin of error.

From Slate • Oct. 21, 2025

We now know that the volume of atmospheric carbon-14 varies depending on how well or not Earth’s magnetism is deflecting cosmic rays, and that that can vary significantly over time.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson