deflect

present singular third person deflects · participle present deflecting · participle past deflected · past deflected

1. transitiveTo make (something) deviate from its original path or position.
2. transitiveball gamesTo touch the ball, often unwittingly, after a shot or a sharp pass, thereby making it unpredictable for the other players.

   The defender deflected the cross into his own net.

3. intransitiveTo deviate from an original path or position.
4. figurativelytransitiveTo avoid addressing (questions, criticism, etc.).

   The Prime Minister deflected some increasingly pointed questions by claiming he had an appointment.

   Synonyms: elude

5. figurativelytransitiveTo divert (attention, etc.).

   Critics suggest that Fernández, an unashamed populist and nationalist, is seeking to deflect attention from social disharmony at home.

   2013 January 3, Luke Harding, Uki Goni, “Argentina urges UK to hand back Falklands and 'end colonialism”, in The Guardian

   1 more example

   Certainly there was much in the relationship itself that, with so much energy deflected into logistic maneuvering was never […] "worked out."

   1979 December 29, Rudy Kikel, “Young Men”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 23, page 16

6. human sciencesTo redirect culpability to avoid it.