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
Any mistakes, anything small, basically derails your career.
—
Cara Anthony, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Investors now worry that Milei’s defeat is a bad omen for the crucial legislative elections in October, a contest that could potentially derail his free-market economic reforms.
—Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
But the decision to launch the attack on Qatari soil reverberated instantly through the region and inside the White House, where officials said the strike risked derailing delicate diplomacy.
—Nik Popli, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Losing your starting quarterback can derail any team, but there is seemingly no excuse to come out flat in Week 1 with a healthy team as a favorite.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Cara Anthony, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Investors now worry that Milei’s defeat is a bad omen for the crucial legislative elections in October, a contest that could potentially derail his free-market economic reforms.
—Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025
But the decision to launch the attack on Qatari soil reverberated instantly through the region and inside the White House, where officials said the strike risked derailing delicate diplomacy.
—Nik Popli, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Losing your starting quarterback can derail any team, but there is seemingly no excuse to come out flat in Week 1 with a healthy team as a favorite.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
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But one way to distract and soothe your temperamental toddler might be through music.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
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Molina, who is fascinated by silver screen legend Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez), distracts himself and Valentín with a recounting of his favorite film of hers — The Kiss of the Spider Woman.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There’s a certain freedom not having social media available from your app launcher, knowing you won’t get disturbed on this device, but are still able to sit back with a good book, some light jazz, and… not much else.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Unfollow accounts that regularly share disturbing images.—
Annie Margaret,
The Conversation,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The women were too busy cooking, crafting, and caring for the family to bother with the stone tools used by men in hunting and building.—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
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Why ban books, Postman asked, if no one bothers to read them?—
Time,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Wildfire worries With the worsening drought comes worries over wildfires.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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The airline's fall from grace should worry anyone with loyalty to the brand.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The growing interest in geoengineering has alarmed some scientists, including Martin Siegert, a glaciologist at the University of Exeter in England and lead author of the new study.—
Alec Luhn,
Scientific American,
11 Sep. 2025
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Continue reading … SHEEN COMES CLEAN – Charlie Sheen reveals how his massive drug habit alarmed the drug cartel supplying him.—
,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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It is concerned solely with the here-and-now, preserving the peace for just one more day, and waiting for the CCP to collapse like the imperial dynasties that ruled China before.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
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The final campaign finance report for the 2024 general election and the annual report concerning remaining campaign funds were filed on April 30 of this year, according to records in the Saline County clerk's office.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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If United play directly into Mbeumo on the right flank and use him as the outlet on the counter, the former Brentford forward could unsettle City.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
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Kirk assassination angers and unsettles leaders, residents The assassination of Kirk, which happened in front of hundreds of people and was captured on video and widely circulated on social media, has in particular rattled the nation and drawn condemnation from across the political spectrum.—
Mark Vancleave,
Twin Cities,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Skilled content creators know that their content has to do more than agitate problems and provide solutions.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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If the leaves are especially dirty, soak in cold water, gently agitating them to loosen dirt and grit.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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