deflect
to cause something to change direction or to turn aside from a course
Word origin: From Latin deflectere, to bend away.
Deflect in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing deflect in a sentence.
The politician skillfully deflected every difficult question the reporter posed.
The spokesperson tried to deflect the reporters' pointed questions by changing the subject to next year's budget.
Quick GRE check
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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence
The professor's lectures were notoriously blank; students often left more puzzled than when they had arrived, unable to follow his tangled chains of reasoning.
Using “deflect” well
Deflect means to turn something aside from its course, whether a physical object or a line of inquiry. It pairs with divert and parry and implies redirecting rather than absorbing.
More GRE words starting with D
to engage in something superficially or as a casual pastime
a raised platform for speakers or honored guests
to waste time or act without urgency
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marked with spots or patches of color or light
to intimidate or discourage with fear or doubt
to move slowly or waste time idly
a scarcity or shortage of something
Questions about “deflect”
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