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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of derail
Chinese leaders may decide to continue dialing up tensions, perhaps even derailing the talks and reigniting the spring’s tit-for-tat tariff war.
—
Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
On the flip side, a stronger dollar can tempt lifestyle creep—spending more simply because things feel cheaper, which can quietly derail your budget.
—Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
Israeli forces struck Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, unnerving a White House that feared the bombing campaign would derail its efforts at diplomacy.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Especially as demand for electricity skyrockets and renewable energy scales up, a shortage in talent could threaten to derail the energy sector.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025
On the flip side, a stronger dollar can tempt lifestyle creep—spending more simply because things feel cheaper, which can quietly derail your budget.
—Essence, 23 Oct. 2025
Israeli forces struck Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, unnerving a White House that feared the bombing campaign would derail its efforts at diplomacy.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Especially as demand for electricity skyrockets and renewable energy scales up, a shortage in talent could threaten to derail the energy sector.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
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While some critics are skeptical of the claims amid a lack of publicly available evidence – suggesting instead that they are meant to distract from growing public discontent and protests against Noboa’s government – the president insisted to CNN the threat was real.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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What Wednesday evening’s triumph also does is quieten the distracting outside noise that such a newsworthy club invariably attracts.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Staffieri was appropriately shocked and disturbed by both the antisemitic display and the breach of internal protocol.—
Marsha Sutton,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
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The plot was inspired by a Japanese news report that had deeply disturbed Woo, about a lunatic guilty of poisoning baby formula.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Not the kind of thrift store that’s actually thrifty, but the kind of thrift store that doesn’t have any price tags because the people who can afford to shop there don’t need to bother themselves with price tags.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Being a double Viking with Swedish and Norman blood on each side of my family, the cold never bothered me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Grieving Vince, worrying about Bode, and taking care of her Cal Fire family is a lot to balance.—
Alamin Yohannes,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
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Amawi worried about the risk of refeeding syndrome.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That should alarm every one of us because ICE is not targeting criminals.—
Jody Agius Vallejo,
Oc Register,
22 Oct. 2025
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The report quickly circulated on social media and even alarmed some basketball fans.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The other legend concerns a black magic practitioner who fell in love with a princess.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
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This is a doc not at all focused on the circumstances of her death and concerned more for celebrating and recognizing the impact of Selena’s life.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sirianni tried to downplay questions about the position even when the season approached and the depth chart was unsettled.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
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But the shooting guard spot is unsettled.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Case in point was the second period, when Hartman agitated Gudbranson on a potentially game-swinging penalty.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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What is the best way to investigate a spirit without agitating it?—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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