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

The Biden administration thus faces the vexing problem of having its most important policy goal regarding the Gaza crisis challenged and perhaps derailed by its primary regional partner. —Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024

Investors have warned that signs of persistent inflation could derail the interest rate cut in June or July that many traders are anticipating. —Krystal Hur, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024

Besides interest rates staying higher for longer, critics say other threats could also derail the stock market’s dash higher. —Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024

Chan’s first trial on charges of racketeering, bribery, fraud and lying to federal investigators was derailed after his lawyer, Harland Braun, was hospitalized and unable to return to work for months. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024

The plan was derailed in early March when new material relevant to the case was turned over to the two sides by the Justice Department. —Graham Kates, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2024

The merger was almost derailed by a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into deal talks between the two companies that took place before Digital World’s initial public offering. —Matthew Goldstein, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024

If the Wildcats allowed Long Beach State to make an initial charge Thursday afternoon and gain confidence, the demons of collapses past might derail Arizona yet again. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 21 Mar. 2024

Several Union Pacific train cars derailed Monday morning, blocking multiple streets in downtown Hope, according to police and train officials. —Remington Miller, arkansasonline.com, 25 Mar. 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