Deviates from objectives spearheaded by bishop (5)
I believe the answer is:
bends
'deviates from objectives' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'spearheaded by bishop' is the wordplay.
'spearheaded' becomes 'ends' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'bishop' becomes 'B' (abbreviation for bishop in chess).
'ends' after 'b' is 'BENDS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bends that I've seen before include "deadly to the diver" , "Decompression sickness" , "Buckles" , "Road curves" , "Painful divers' condition" .)