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
That means even one holdout could derail the termination.
—
Catherine Odom
january 29, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
This ensures that filing for bankruptcy won't derail your future financial security.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have announced an April 24 release date for their new LP Fenian, which will be their first album since a series of polarizing political statements threatened to derail their career.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026
Danes said a major season 3 scene with Damian Lewis was nearly derailed by a set issue.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for derail
Catherine Odom
january 29, Miami Herald, 29 Jan. 2026
This ensures that filing for bankruptcy won't derail your future financial security.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap have announced an April 24 release date for their new LP Fenian, which will be their first album since a series of polarizing political statements threatened to derail their career.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2026
Danes said a major season 3 scene with Damian Lewis was nearly derailed by a set issue.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
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In Oklahoma, House Bill 1597 states that staying within 25 feet of law enforcement, correctional, probation, parole, or EMS personnel with the intent to harass, interfere, or distract them while conducting their duties can be considered a misdemeanor if an initial warning is ignored.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
30 Jan. 2026
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This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Taking place during the Christmas season, the film centers on a group of sorority sisters who are tormented by persistent, disturbing phone calls.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
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Kids comb case files, contact local authorities, and even interview a victim, all of which expose each young detective to disturbing images, ideas, and theories.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Zamiri doesn’t really bother filming fans rushing Charli’s car or whatever—this has been the quintessential mock-pop-doc scene since A Hard Day’s Night but these days the fans rush you online.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
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Aquarius' biggest struggle in 2026 Don’t bother trying to control the outcome.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Alinejad views her mission as exposing the situation in Iran and giving voice to victims, but worries the attempts on her life will create a fear of inviting her to speak.—
Katrina Kaufman,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Lindsay Koshgarian, the program director of the National Priorities Project who has been tracking deployment costs, worries that at some point, these expenses will affect funding for other important military priorities.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The affected regions in southern Africa are no strangers to heavy downpours and flooding, but scientists were alarmed by the magnitude of the recent events.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
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While this alarmed some users, this type of intrusive data harvesting is common on social media apps.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But absent any concerning signs that the labor market is falling a cliff, the Fed will also likely turn to inflation data for the cue on when to lower rates again.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
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Well, within the past year, professionals who have sought to advance their careers through ongoing training and development are turning to a non-technical AI skill, one that fundamentally shapes the future of work even outside of IT, as far as AI is concerned.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Player safety was also touted as a reason for the rule changes, though that element is still unsettled.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
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The confident welcome had unsettled the visitors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Robertson has not agitated for a move and showcased his professionalism with his performance as a half-time substitute in Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
25 Jan. 2026
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Why cold water makes such a big difference Most washers don’t use much more electricity to agitate or spin a load.—
Ascend Agency,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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