deflect

Universal Words verb 1 to change direction or make sth change direction, especially after hitting sth: [V] The ball deflected off Reid's body into the goal. * [VN] He raised his arm to try to deflect the blow. 2 [VN] to succeed in preventing sth from being directed towards you: All attempts to deflect attention from his private life have failed. * She sought to deflect criticism by blaming her family. 3 [VN] ~ sb (from sth) to prevent sb from doing sth that they are determined to do: The government will not be deflected from its commitments.