"deflects" 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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