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
Drexel visited her father in 2019 – and she, too, was prevented from leaving China for 11 months, derailing her plans to attend law school.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Similarly, the city was planning to ask voters to green-light their efforts to redevelop Miami Marine Stadium — an iconic waterfront property — before the plan was derailed at the 11th hour last month.
—Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Starting January under a mountain of credit card debt can derail your entire year.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
Ralph and Dorothea Campbell said their only daughter always wanted to help the underdog and at first became a nurse, a career that was derailed after a shoulder injury.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
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Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
Similarly, the city was planning to ask voters to green-light their efforts to redevelop Miami Marine Stadium — an iconic waterfront property — before the plan was derailed at the 11th hour last month.
—Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Starting January under a mountain of credit card debt can derail your entire year.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 28 Oct. 2025
Ralph and Dorothea Campbell said their only daughter always wanted to help the underdog and at first became a nurse, a career that was derailed after a shoulder injury.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 28 Oct. 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 5 Nov. 2025.
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