Verb
To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected.
To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.
Source: Webster's dictionaryThe invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing practical to alter or deflect the impulse to destroy the enemy, which is central to the very idea of war. Carl von Clausewitz
All I do is have fun. When I'm not working, it's about making people laugh. I love making jokes about things. Even when someone's mad at me, I'll deflect anger with humor. My days are filled with laughter. If I'm not laughing, I'm not happy. Drew Fuller
When women age into their power, no wind can upset them, no hand turn aside their knowledge, no fact can deflect their point of view. Louise Erdrich
NASA will send up a big sun shade that will be in orbit between the earth and sun and deflect 2 or 3 percent of the sunshine back into space. It would be cheaper than the international space station. James Lovelock
The injunction to be nice is used to deflect criticism and stifle the legitimate anger of dissent. Malcolm Gladwell
Extinguish the spark before the [the house is on] fire, deflect the trouble before [its] strike. Russian Proverb