Vocabulary Spotlight
Deflect
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To cause something to change direction; to divert or prevent something from affecting its intended target.
“The shield was strong enough to deflect the incoming arrows.”
Pronunciation
[dih-flekt]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Redirect
Turn aside
Bounce off
Rebound
Antonyms
Direct
Aim
Attract
Guide
Related Words
Redirection (noun)
Divergence (noun)
Word Origin
“Deflect” originates from the Latin “deflectere,” meaning “to bend down or aside,” which evolved to signify changing direction.
Word Family
Noun: Deflection – The act of changing direction or being diverted.
Adjective: Deflective – Having the property of causing something to change direction.
Mnemonics
Think “deflect” as “de-flick” – like flicking or moving something away from its path.
Industry-specific Usage
Physics
In physics, deflection refers to changing the path of an object due to a force, such as light bending in a medium.
Sports
In sports, players deflect the ball to change its direction, often in defense.
Communication
In communication, people may deflect questions to avoid answering directly, often shifting the topic.
In Context
“Deflect” is commonly used to describe physical, mental, or conversational shifts away from an intended target or topic. It often implies preventing or avoiding direct impact.