derailed; derailing; derails
1
: to cause to run off the rails
2
a
: to obstruct the progress of : frustrate
security problems derailed the tour
b
: to upset the stability or composure of
divorce … can seriously derail an employee—
Joanne Gordon
Joanne Gordon
: to leave the rails
Examples of derail in a Sentence
The train derailed in heavy snow.
The train was derailed by heavy snow.
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite this apparent momentum, the research identified critical gaps between CEO expectations and IT capabilities that threaten to derail these efforts.
—Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
The decision follows years of mounting frustration among Republican and Democratic administrations alike, as nationwide injunctions have increasingly been used to derail executive policies before higher courts could weigh in.
—Nik Popli, Time, 27 June 2025
Previous episode synopses for The Buccaneers season two can be read below:
Episode One: Nan's wedding day is in full swing, but a surprise appearance by someone from her past threatens to derail the festivities.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
But a last-minute dispute with Spain has threatened to derail those plans.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Steve McDowell, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
The decision follows years of mounting frustration among Republican and Democratic administrations alike, as nationwide injunctions have increasingly been used to derail executive policies before higher courts could weigh in.
—Nik Popli, Time, 27 June 2025
Previous episode synopses for The Buccaneers season two can be read below:
Episode One: Nan's wedding day is in full swing, but a surprise appearance by someone from her past threatens to derail the festivities.
—Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025
But a last-minute dispute with Spain has threatened to derail those plans.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 25 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derail. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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