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 holidays don't have to derail your team's momentum. —Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024

The timing of the award is critical; Trump's previous statements have raised concerns that his incoming administration might attempt to derail subsidies aimed at fostering the domestic chip industry. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024

These are baseless allegations intended to derail the second Trump administration. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2024

The train car that derailed into the creek was an automobile rack and was carrying eight vehicles. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 18 Nov. 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