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
This opposition threatens to derail the tax legislation, which Trump was hoping to see passed before the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
5 Hours Ago
S&P 500 snaps 6-day win streak
The S&P 500 snapped a six-day winning streak on Tuesday.
—
Lisa Kailai Han,jesse Pound, CNBC, 19 May 2025
What to know about Venezuelan gang targeted by Donald Trump
The issue has ascended to the U.S. Supreme Court, as opponents of the policy attempt to derail the president's use of the law, calling it unconstitutional.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Eventually, the rest of the cars derail, killing the last person onboard.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 18 May 2025
However, the issues that derailed the fair in 2022, 2023 and 2024 remain problematic, primarily relating to clean-up, insurance and the use of county resources.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Lisa Kailai Han,jesse Pound, CNBC, 19 May 2025
What to know about Venezuelan gang targeted by Donald Trump
The issue has ascended to the U.S. Supreme Court, as opponents of the policy attempt to derail the president's use of the law, calling it unconstitutional.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Eventually, the rest of the cars derail, killing the last person onboard.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 18 May 2025
However, the issues that derailed the fair in 2022, 2023 and 2024 remain problematic, primarily relating to clean-up, insurance and the use of county resources.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
-
Critics suggested that Johnson timed the announcement to distract from the fact that he’d just been fined for attending a party in defiance of his own COVID restrictions, though the policy had been months in the making.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
16 May 2025
-
These lingering to-dos consume mental energy, distract our focus, and elevate stress.—
Luciana Paulise,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
Verb
-
These days, there’s no shortage of packable, lightweight sleeping pads to make sure no peas (or pebbles) ever disturb your slumber on your next backpacking trip.—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
11 May 2025
-
The images of those disturbing losses cycled through social media and quickly made it onto local news.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2025
Verb
-
Or Xander Schauffele, the defending PGA champion who is surely not bothered by the lack of attention on him early this week.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
-
That doesn’t mean the implication doesn’t bother him.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Verb
-
Given the historical biases in hiring practices, many job seekers worry that AI might perpetuate or even amplify these biases.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
In 1956, a survey of over 2,000 professors showed that 61% had been contacted by the FBI; 40% worried that students might misrepresent their politics; and about a quarter would not express their views for fear of the government.—
Time,
Time,
20 May 2025
Verb
-
The rapid expansion of the Camp House Fire, Jenkins Creek Fire and Munger Shaw Fire has alarmed officials.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
-
Democrats and some Republicans are also alarmed over the ethics of accepting such an expensive gift from a foreign country.—
Jeremy Bogaisky,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
Verb
-
All of these trends are concerning for a soon-to-be-32-year-old pitcher in the second season of a seven-year, $172 million contract.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
-
The warning was released on Thursday at 9:12 a.m., and the last update concerning this incident was provided on Thursday at 9:36 a.m.—
Kansas City Star Bot,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2025
Verb
-
They, too, have been unsettled by Mr. Trump’s tariff offensive, his dismissal of allies as freeloaders, and his reluctance to support Ukraine.—
Ned Temko,
Christian Science Monitor,
15 May 2025
-
Inexplicably, Kohli was unsettled by the dismissal of young opener Jaiswal and poked at one to nick behind.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
Verb
-
Trump is also agitated by America's massive trade deficit with China, which came to $263 billion last year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 May 2025
-
Trump is also agitated by America’s massive trade deficit with China, which came to $263 billion last year.—
Paul Wiseman,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share