"deflect" in the verb sense
1. debar, forefend, forfend, obviate, deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off
prevent the occurrence of prevent from happening
"Let's avoid a confrontation"
"head off a confrontation"
"avert a strike"
2. deflect, bend, turn away
turn from a straight course, fixed direction, or line of interest
3. deflect
turn aside and away from an initial or intended course
4. distract, deflect
draw someone's attention away from something
"The thief distracted the bystanders"
"He deflected his competitors"
5. parry, block, deflect
impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball
"block an attack"
Source: WordNet® (An amazing lexical database of English)
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