deflect
deflect
Pronunciation
/dɪˈflekt/
dɪ: This syllable starts with the voiced alveolar stop /d/, followed by the short "i" sound /ɪ/.
flekt: This syllable begins with the voiceless labiodental fricative /f/, followed by the lateral approximant /l/. Then comes the short "e" sound /e/, and finally the syllable ends with the voiceless velar stop /k/ and the voiceless alveolar stop /t/.
Word Form Variations
"Deflect" is a verb, and here are some of its various forms:
Base Form: deflect
Third-person singular present: deflects (He deflects the ball.)
Present participle: deflecting (She is deflecting criticism.)
Past tense: deflected (They deflected the attack.)
Past participle: deflected (The missile was deflected.)
While "deflect" itself doesn't have a singular/plural form as it's not a noun, it can be turned into a noun: "deflection". This noun has a plural form: "deflections".
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To cause something to change direction by hitting or touching it; to turn aside from a straight course.
Synonyms: divert, deviate, swerve, veer, avert, redirect, glance off
Antonyms: maintain, proceed, continue, follow
Definition 2: To cause (something, such as attention or criticism) to be directed away from oneself.
Synonyms: evade, avoid, parry, rebuff, fend off, sidetrack
Antonyms: attract, face, confront, address, accept
Noun
Definition: The act of deflecting or the state of being deflected.
Synonyms: deviation, diversion, deflection
Antonyms: directness, straightness
While "deflect" can be used as a noun (e.g., "the deflect of the ball"), it's much less common than its verb form and the noun form "deflection". It's also not typically used as an adjective or adverb.
Examples of Use
Books:
Fiction: "Harry deftly deflected the curse with a flick of his wand, sending it soaring back towards Malfoy." (This is a common trope in fantasy novels, like the Harry Potter series, where magic is often "deflected".)
Non-Fiction: "The author deflects criticism by focusing on the positive reception of his previous work." (This could appear in a biography or literary criticism, like a review in The New York Times Book Review.)
Newspapers:
"The senator deflected questions about the campaign finance scandal, pivoting instead to his record on environmental issues." (The Washington Post)
"The goalkeeper deflected the penalty kick, preserving the team's lead." (This type of phrasing is common in sports reporting, like in articles on ESPN.com)
Online Publications:
"In a recent blog post, the CEO deflected blame for the company's poor performance, citing 'unforeseen market conditions.'" (This could be found in a business publication like Forbes or TechCrunch.)
"Social media influencers often deflect negative comments by disabling replies or deleting critical posts." (This might appear in an article on online culture in a publication like Wired or Slate.)
Entertainment:
Movies: "The superhero deflected the villain's energy blast with his shield." (Think of action movies with characters like Wonder Woman or Captain America.)
Video Games: "Players can deflect incoming projectiles by timing their button presses correctly." (This is a common mechanic in games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.)
Public Discourse:
Politics: "During the debate, the candidate attempted to deflect attention from his opponent's strong points by bringing up unrelated controversies." (This is a common tactic in political debates, as seen on news channels like CNN or Fox News.)
Everyday Conversation: "When asked about his messy room, the teenager deflected by saying he was 'too busy with homework'." (This is a relatable example of how people use "deflect" in casual conversation.)
10 Famous Quotes Using Deflect
"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another — not to deflect, but to direct." — William James (paraphrased from his work on psychology and mindfulness)
"Do not deflect criticism — absorb what is useful, discard what is not, and add what is uniquely your own." — Bruce Lee (paraphrased from his philosophy of martial arts and self-growth)
"You can't deflect every obstacle in life, but you can choose how to face it." — Oprah Winfrey
"People will deflect from their own insecurities by pointing out yours." — Brené Brown
"It is a common trait of human nature to deflect blame before accepting responsibility." — John Locke (paraphrased from his philosophical essays)
"Humor can be a shield, used to deflect pain when we’re not ready to confront it." — Robin Williams (from interviews about his use of comedy and personal struggles)
"Power without accountability will always deflect questions and silence critics." — Cornel West
"Don’t deflect compliments. Receive them. They’re someone’s gift to you." — Maya Angelou (paraphrased from her teachings on self-worth)
"We often deflect success because we fear what it asks of us." — Marianne Williamson
"It’s easier to deflect than to reflect — but only one leads to growth." — Unknown (popular modern leadership quote)
Etymology
The word "eagle" has a long and interesting history!
Roots: It comes from the Latin word "aquila," which likely referred to the dark color of some eagle feathers.
Journey to English: Over time, "aquila" traveled through languages like Old French ("aigle") before arriving in English.
Early Use: The earliest known use of "eagle" in English was around the 14th century, and it simply meant the large bird of prey we know today.
So, essentially, the word "eagle" has its roots in the Latin word for a bird with dark feathers, and it's been used in English to describe this majestic creature for centuries!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Deflect
Actual, though less common phrases:
"Deflect blame": This is probably the most frequent collocation, used in contexts like "The CEO tried to deflect blame for the company's failure."
"Deflect attention": Similar to the above, e.g., "The magician used misdirection to deflect attention from his sleight of hand."
Lesser-known or context-specific phrases:
"Deflect the blow": This has a literal (parrying an attack) and figurative use (mitigating negative impact), e.g., "The government announced tax cuts to deflect the blow of the recession."
"Deflect inquiries": Meaning to evade questions, often seen in journalism, e.g., "The spokesperson deflected inquiries about the CEO's resignation."
Original phrases, playing with the word's meaning:
"Deflect and conquer": Implying that skillful redirection leads to victory.
"Deflect with grace": Suggesting a polite way of handling unwanted attention or criticism.
"Deflection point": Metaphorically, a moment where a situation changes course due to some influence.
Idioms with synonyms, achieving a similar effect:
"Pass the buck": Shifting responsibility, similar to deflecting blame.
"Beat around the bush": Avoiding directness, akin to deflecting inquiries.
"Throw someone a curveball": Introducing an unexpected element, which can metaphorically deflect someone from their intended course.
"Sidetrack the issue": Diverting attention, much like deflecting attention from the main point.
The scarcity of "deflect" idioms highlights its role as a precise, functional word. It's more about the action of redirection than a source of colorful language. Nonetheless, with some creativity, we can still find ways to use it expressively!
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of deflect from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
