as in to distract
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
according to police, the suspect had been derailed in recent months by mounting financial problems
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Recent Examples of derail
Handle the unsexy logistics early These details aren’t exciting, but skipping them can derail a trip fast.
—
Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
But a catastrophic ‘Stormganza’ threatens to derail the high-speed train, and the duo have to join forces with the snobby first class attendants and President Gagwell (RuPaul) to save the day in this wild ride of camp and comedy.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
This dynamic is taken to extreme, surreal heights in Kobo Abe’s Woman in the Dunes, about a man whose idyll is derailed entirely.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Sarepta, which laid off more than one-third of its workforce last year after multiple patient deaths derailed its top-selling gene therapy for muscular dystrophy, has staked its future on a pipeline of unproven treatments for related conditions.
—Damian Garde, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for derail
Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
But a catastrophic ‘Stormganza’ threatens to derail the high-speed train, and the duo have to join forces with the snobby first class attendants and President Gagwell (RuPaul) to save the day in this wild ride of camp and comedy.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
This dynamic is taken to extreme, surreal heights in Kobo Abe’s Woman in the Dunes, about a man whose idyll is derailed entirely.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Sarepta, which laid off more than one-third of its workforce last year after multiple patient deaths derailed its top-selling gene therapy for muscular dystrophy, has staked its future on a pipeline of unproven treatments for related conditions.
—Damian Garde, STAT, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
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Its glare-free screen also helps keep reflections away so you won't be distracted.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
27 Mar. 2026
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There are so many women that are underestimated, so many women that present themselves in ways that people can find distracting or make assumptions about because of it.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Leo moon disturbs unconscious patterns that are ready to be interrupted.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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Bees are typically not aggressive but can become defensive if their hive is disturbed, especially during yard work or landscaping, city officials said.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At Brookhurst and Magnolia streets, construction was stopped so nearby birds that were nesting weren’t bothered.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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Throughout the day, jot down any worries that are bothering you, particularly the ones that keep popping up.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hernandez said he was encouraged by recent meetings with Republican members of Congress from his home state, Florida, but worries other priorities will drown out the bill, as has happened in the past.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Ajmera said her neighbors worry the center could impact their water bills or introduce loud humming noises to the largely residential area.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And according to a sweeping new joint report from Accenture and the Wharton School, the humans running them are falling behind in a way that should alarm every boardroom in America.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
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The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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If the novel concerned only these elements—the clash of cultures in a small town, the thrill of the landscape beyond it—readers would still turn the last page with a fruitful, even nourishing, sense of disorientation.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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Issues concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to any principles of conflict of laws.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Current forecasts suggest unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions tonight, with minor to moderate storm-level (G1 to G2) conditions possible as solar wind disturbances continue through April 1 and into April 2, according to NOAA.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
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Mamdani’s victory seemed to have surprised and unsettled him.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That is propaganda, not just pushed by the groups who agitated for this specific war but also sewn by the massive war machine in DC that’s spent decades inflating threats to justify its continued existence.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
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Pour in egg mixture and immediately stir with a heatproof rubber spatula, incorporating ham and gently agitating eggs, and running it along edges until sides begin to bubble, about 30 seconds.—
Inés Anguiano,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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