DERAIL Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

derail

verb

di-ˈrāl

Definition of derail

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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of derail In January, more than two hours farther south along the route, a train derailed and struck another traveling in the opposite direction, killing 46 people. — CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026 The Lions are too familiar with neck and spinal cord injuries that derail NFL careers and change the direction of players' lives. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026 Many things derailed that previous rebuild owner Steve Ross attempted to orchestrate. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 1 Nov. 2026 This pair is made from soft, stretchy denim that moves with you, which is vital when stiff fabric and chafing can derail any vacation. — Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for derail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail

Verb

In her first sketch, Navarrette and Hernandez played the ghost of a couple of 1930s kids on the Queen Mary who keep distracting a tourist from hearing where another ghost’s treasure is hidden.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2026
Driscoll was nearby the whole time, but was distracted with the installation of a new oven.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

In fact, the movie doesn’t even bother revealing Fang’s ultimate fate; but then again, he’s been fully vindicated in the court of public opinion, so who cares?

— Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
Nothing shows the world that the outside noise doesn’t bother you quite like preparing a statement ahead of time about how much the outside noise doesn’t bother you.

— Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of bother

Verb

That forced Edmonds and former Horned Frog David Punch (now at Texas) to play lengthy minutes and have to worry about foul trouble.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Still, Nowinski is worried the Guardian Cap is giving parents and athletes a false sense of security that the game has been made considerably safer.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of worry

Verb

Coolly, Violet responds that to avoid alarming the public, a few agitators have beenneutralized—now there’s a sticky euphemism—and their deaths passed off as revenge killings among drug traffickers.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
That move sparked enormous street protests in Israel, and alarmed many Israeli citizens overseas.

— Daniel Brook, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarm

Verb

Musk and SpaceX have been instructed to preserve records concerning restrictions imposed on a military version of the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, CNN first reported, citing an aide to a Democratic senator.

— Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
A number of women who were not known to each other came forward to officers with reports concerning Brand after that investigation was published, the Met Police said.

— Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of concern

Verb

Where some of her peers were agitating for new ideological thinking inside the Party, Stevens was something closer to an earnest moderate.

— Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2026
But hell hath no fury like a Latino voter scorned and all this intimidation, in addition to a lack of follow-through on promises by Republican lawmakers since 2024, might have a boomerang effect by agitating Latinos into action.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of agitate

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deputy

derail

derailed

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“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of derail

verb

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