deflect

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.

In December, The Times revealed that the city’s after-action report had been altered to deflect criticism of LAFD’s failure to predeploy engines and crews to the Palisades, among other shortcomings.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

With the puck inches away from sneaking past him, a desperate, flailing Hellebuyck reached back and somehow managed to deflect it away at the last possible moment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

When called to testify before an oversight board, a police official can deflect accusations of targeting specific racial groups or poorer neighborhoods, claiming that they are merely following the objective dictates of a machine.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

Grok had appeared to deflect the criticism with a new monetisation policy, posting on X on Thursday that image generation and editing were now "limited to paying subscribers", alongside a link to a premium subscription.

From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026

Perhaps they had thrown her out to deflect the avengers.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston