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 The original plan for 25 street-legal M6 GTs was eventually altered to 50 examples due to FIA requirements, but production never came to fruition, derailed by the 32-year-old McLaren’s death during testing at Goodwood in 1970. — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2026 Stewart, a potent running quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was the talk of the industry when an unfounded rumor about him being gay threatened to derail everything. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026 A good long-term bet can be derailed by the reality of right now. — Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 Over cappuccinos in the garden of the Chateau Marmont, Baron Cohen lets loose on the mounting backlash, his battles with studios and the $3 million day that nearly derailed his film. — Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for derail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail

Verb

In each case, the visible problem can distract from the value underneath it.

— Michael Ligon, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
The Democrat, who supports Jackson, thinks there’s wisdom in trying to avoid gaffes that distract from Collins.

— Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

Her departure came just the day after prosecutors said the baby's mother discovered disturbing camera footage over a three-month period.

— Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Then the heart-wrenching, disturbing discussion of why Nevada became famous overnight was brought up.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturb

Verb

The mathematics and computer science graduate, who spent two years in the Peace Corps, launched Netflix by mailing DVDs in red envelopes to customers bothered by Blockbuster Video chain’s practices and late fees.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
Some people, like me, are bothered by such images but can mostly ignore them.

— Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of bother

Verb

Although officials have not released details about the cause of death, scientists agree that if it was caused by ordinary plague, the wider world has little to worry about.

— Faye Flam, Scientific American, 27 Oct. 2026
Jason Henry | Bloomberg | Getty Images Anthropic’s IPO prospectus is chock-full of details for investors to celebrate — and worry about.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of worry

Verb

That move sparked enormous street protests in Israel, and alarmed many Israeli citizens overseas.

— Daniel Brook, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
The new company has nearly $80 billion in debt, with leverage of six-and-a-half times trailing earnings, a ratio that has alarmed investors and triggered credit rating downgrades.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarm

Verb

Huang’s ideas concerned two formulas that appeared in Ramanujan’s letters and are now known as the Rogers-Ramanujan identities.

— Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2026
OpenAI therefore leaves individual training rewards unchanged when monitors flag concerning samples.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of concern

Verb

This week’s public skirmish was a repeat performance, if not a somewhat pathetic display of both men’s need to agitate for attention.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
But while the calls to resign or step aside have waned, many are still agitating for change.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of agitate

Browse Nearby Words

deputy

derail

derailed

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“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of derail

verb

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