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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
And what heartbreaking twist derailed their emotional reunion back in 2020?
—
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
Directed by Sammi Cohen, this film centers on Stacy Friedman (Sunny Sandler — Adam's younger daughter), whose bat mitzvah plans are hilariously derailed by trivial mishaps.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
As the cable apparently snapped, the car that was coming down the 265-metre slope lost its braking and derailed on a turn, crashing into a corner building.
—Reuters, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Lisbon’s historic Glória Funicular derailed during rush hour Wednesday, reportedly killing at least 15 people and injuring 18.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 4 Sep. 2025
Directed by Sammi Cohen, this film centers on Stacy Friedman (Sunny Sandler — Adam's younger daughter), whose bat mitzvah plans are hilariously derailed by trivial mishaps.
—James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
As the cable apparently snapped, the car that was coming down the 265-metre slope lost its braking and derailed on a turn, crashing into a corner building.
—Reuters, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Lisbon’s historic Glória Funicular derailed during rush hour Wednesday, reportedly killing at least 15 people and injuring 18.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
-
That will distract any views of the neighbors’ patios or houses that might linger until the shrubs fill in.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Some medications can help distract the brain, and those are usually tried first.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Vic and Cali hadn’t wanted a wedding, but this had disturbed Vic’s parents.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Two players take on the roles of a brother and sister who are searching for their missing buddies on an island inhabited by some rather disturbing monsters.—
Joshua Lamb,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The acting didn’t bother me, but the directing did.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
-
If the odds of winning the lottery are so low, why do people bother playing?—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Not knowing much about the condition, Mares-Sedillo worried that her face would be permanently altered.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The condition's most severe symptoms are sensitivities to spices, salt, and sweets, which means there's no reason to worry about a geographic tongue diagnosis.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
China's nuclear arsenal has especially alarmed Washington and its allies.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The tackling was alarming enough that the Broncos were practicing on Monday with live tackles, something that’s not seen too often once the season starts.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While the San Francisco 49ers started off their 2025 NFL schedule with a 17-13 road win over the Seattle Seahawks, there are definite reasons for their fans to be concerned.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
As far as pricing is concerned, while multiple reports suggested that Apple may hike prices this year to offset tariff pressure, a JPMorgan report indicates the opposite.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Through it all, what unsettled me in those places was the fragility of trust between armed patrols and the civilians around them — the uneasy sense that one spark could undo any tenuous stability.—
Eric Chastain,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
-
One of my clients, a senior executive in a major technology company, shared how the organization's shifting priorities were unsettling the team.—
Gamze Acar Bayraktaroglu,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
In her autobiography, Gibson wrote about biding her time rather than choosing to agitate.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share