Vocabulary Spotlight

Deflected

Part of Speech: Verb (past tense of Deflect)

Definition: Having been redirected or caused to change direction, usually due to an external force.

“The ball was deflected off the defender’s leg and into the goal.”

Pronunciation

[dih-flek-tid]

Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words

Synonyms

Redirected
Bounced
Averted
Repelled
Rebounded

Antonyms

Directed
Focused
Guided
Targeted
Aimed

Related Words

Reflection (noun)
Rebound (noun)
Diverted (adjective)

Word Origin

“Deflected” is the past tense of “deflect,” coming from the Latin “deflectere,” meaning “to bend away.”

Word Family

Noun: Deflection – The action of changing direction.

Adjective: Deflective – Having the quality of causing redirection.

Mnemonics

Think of “deflected” as “directed away” – something that has been changed from its original path.

Industry-specific Usage

Sports

In sports, deflected passes or shots are redirected by another player, often changing the outcome.

Engineering

In engineering, deflected beams or structures are those that bend or shift under stress.

Physics

Deflected particles in physics experiments show the influence of forces, such as magnetic fields.

In Context

“Deflected” is used in physical contexts, such as sports or engineering, to describe objects or forces that cause a change in direction.

Vocabulary Challenges

1. Which is an antonym of “Deflected”?

Directed
Redirected
Averted
Repelled

‘Directed’ is correct as it suggests a focused path, opposite of deflected.

2. Fill in the blank: The puck was _______ by the goalie’s stick and went out of bounds.

directed
focused
deflected
guided

‘Deflected’ is correct as it describes the redirection of the puck’s path.

3. In which context is “deflected” commonly used?

Planning a project
Writing a letter
Drawing a picture
Changing a ball’s path in sports

‘Changing a ball’s path in sports’ is correct, as deflected often describes physical redirection.