deflective

American

[dih-flek-tiv] / dɪˈflɛk tɪv /

adjective

causing deflection.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of deflective

First recorded in 1805–15; deflect + -ive

Vocabulary lists containing deflective

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He will need to draw upon all his reserves of deflective parliamentary wit.

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2025

Smith also recommends a deflective approach for invading jackets, hair or feet.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 27, 2023

And he offered his deflective auto-response to several inquiries whose answers seemed easily retrieved.

From Washington Post • Nov. 25, 2022

“Right now, I can’t even talk about this,” he said when the issue came up, and laughed his deflective laugh.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2020

Air, finally, has so small an index of refraction and so small a deflective influence upon light, that the refractive effect is commonly imperceptible altogether.

From Popular scientific lectures by Mach, Ernst

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023