derail

verb

de·​rail di-ˈrāl 

dē-

derailed; derailing; derails

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to leave the rails

derailment

di-ˈrāl-mənt 

dē-

noun

Synonyms

• agitate
• ail
• alarm
• alarum
• bother
• concern
• discomfort
• discompose
• dismay
• disquiet
• distemper
• distract
• distress
• disturb
• exercise
• flurry
• frazzle
• freak (out)
• fuss
• hagride
• perturb
• undo
• unhinge
• unsettle
• upset
• weird out
• worry

Examples of derail in a Sentence

The train derailed in heavy snow.

The train was derailed by heavy snow.

Recent Examples on the Web

But after three carries by running back Elijah Dotson, the drive was derailed by a false start on offensive tackle Foster Sarell, forcing the Chargers to settle for a 37-yard field goal. —Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2024

Already, investors are dumping the nation’s stocks, and any further upheaval can potentially derail Srettha’s attempts to reboot an economy that’s notched an average sub-2% growth rate in the past decade, well below its regional peers. —Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Anuchit Nguyen / Bloomberg, TIME, 7 Aug. 2024

However, the speedy 6-foot-1, 195-pound fourth-year receiver has yet to find his footing after groin and foot injuries derailed much of his first two years. —Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2024

However, Quinn Martin's Deep Fake HOH power has derailed her reign. —David Wysong, The Enquirer, 14 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French dérailler to throw off the track, from dé- de- + rail, from English

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

derail

verb

de·​rail di-ˈrā(ə)l 

: to cause to run off the rails

a train derailed by heavy snow

derailment

-mənt 

noun