deflection
Turning something aside
Deflection is the act of causing something to change direction or turn aside.
A shield deflects blows; a mirror deflects light.
In psychology and everyday speech, deflection means redirecting attention away from an uncomfortable topic: When asked about his drinking, he deflected by criticizing her spending.
The word also has technical uses in physics and engineering for measuring how much a beam or needle bends under force.
Geometric measure of rotation
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- refractionWave bending between media
- ricochetAngled deflection off surface
- bounceSpring back after impact
rebound · curvature · bending · vector · momentum · force · elasticity · incidence
Deliberate keeping away
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
- blame-shiftingAttributing fault to others
denial · minimization · rationalization · projection · defensiveness · excuse · dismissal · redirection
Thing diverting one's attention
- diversionRedirection of attention
- feintDeceptive mock attack
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- smokescreenConcealment through misdirection
ruse · ploy · tactic · maneuver · sleight · bait-and-switch · camouflage · obfuscation
Handheld defensive armor
- armorProtective combat covering
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- guardWatchful defensive attention
- blockSolid mass, or impede
parry · riposte · defense · fortification · cover · absorption · padding · bulletproof
Pressure, mental or vocal
- strainExcessive stretching force
- loadCarried weight or burden
- bendingCurving from straight
- deformationChange in shape
beam · cantilever · structural · flexure · displacement · elasticity · rigidity · torsion
Negative subatomic particle
- photonElectromagnetic radiation unit
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- particleMinute piece of matter
- interactionReciprocal action between parties
scattering · positron · matter · electromagnetic · emission · acceleration · deceleration · nucleus
angle
Geometric measure of rotation
- trajectoryPath of moving object
- refractionWave bending between media
- ricochetAngled deflection off surface
bounce · rebound · curvature · bending · vector · momentum · force · elasticity · incidence · projectile
avoidance
Deliberate keeping away
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- dodgingAvoiding by moving aside
- sidesteppingMoving aside to avoid
blame-shifting · denial · minimization · rationalization · projection · defensiveness · excuse · dismissal · redirection · stonewalling
distraction
Thing diverting one's attention
smokescreen · ruse · ploy · tactic · maneuver · sleight · bait-and-switch · camouflage · obfuscation · subterfuge
shield
Handheld defensive armor
- armorProtective combat covering
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- guardWatchful defensive attention
block · parry · riposte · defense · fortification · cover · absorption · padding · bulletproof · helmet
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
deformation · beam · cantilever · structural · flexure · displacement · elasticity · rigidity · torsion · moment
electron
Negative subatomic particle
- photonElectromagnetic radiation unit
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- particleMinute piece of matter
interaction · scattering · positron · matter · electromagnetic · emission · acceleration · deceleration · nucleus
- wound ballisticsentry wound, exit wound, penetration, bullet trajectory, tissue damage
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- bowlingbowling pin, bowling ball, bowling pins, bowling balls, bowling lane
- defensedefense, defending, protecting, protection, security
- engineeringengineers, civil engineering, engineering, electrical engineering, blueprint
- hockeypuck, hockey, ice hockey, pucks, field hockey
deflectionabsorption
Process of taking in
direct hit · penetration · straight path · transmission · pass-through
deflectionacceptance
Consent to receive
accountability · acknowledgment · admission · owning up · taking responsibility
deflectiondirect address
Speaking to someone named
engagement · confrontation · directness · focus · attention