DERAILED Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

derailed

verb

past tense of derail

as in distracted

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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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 derailed In 2023, ten cars of a passenger train derailed in southern Pakistan, killing 30 people and injuring more than 90 others. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 The Knicks traded for Alvarado immediately after a sports hernia derailed McBride’s breakout year midseason. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026 But now, considering the lack of commitment to democratic traditions in the Bolsonarismo movement, this trend risks being derailed, ironically, by means of a democratic election. — Rafael R. Ioris, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026 The series stars Wilson as Pryce Cahill, an ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed two decades ago. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026 The market closed at record highs Tuesday as investors bet that AI capex — a major force for the markets and economy — won't be derailed by higher bond yields. — Daren Fonda, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026 The Horned Frogs committed 11 penalties in both games against North Carolina and UCF, including multiple unnecessary roughness penalties and holding calls that derailed drives. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2026 The electric 22-year-old was derailed by a serious leg injury last season (43 points in 54 games), but the signs of his game-breaking potential are evident. — Harman Dayal, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailed

Verb

And not be distracted by whether or not Ed Sheeran is crying today or crying tomorrow.

— Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
But she, and New York Times journalists observing the raid, were soon distracted by a group of cockroaches scurrying past an oil canister.

— Zishaan a Latif, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of distracted

Verb

Dead sheep and bears strewn along the pavement have disturbed local residents for years, but ecologists fear the road may also cause a much slower and quieter die-off, with mountain lions inbreeding as they are cut off from other lions.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
While the noise from the street would at times bleed into the living room, the bedroom was quiet, and our sleep was never disturbed by late-night foot traffic.

— Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbed

Verb

The symptom that alarmed me most in that moment was the progressive skin wrinkling in some NCBRS teens.

— Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Those moves have alarmed Japan, whose economy is dependent for its survival on open sea lines and which recently has been embroiled in a spat with China over remarks that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made about Taiwan.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of alarmed

Verb

Still bothered by nagging arm and knee issues, Ohtani batted second behind Betts.

— Beth Harris, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
The rainy conditions also bothered the Cougars, as BYU had multiple low snaps and dropped passes and committed numerous false starts.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of bothered

Verb

His lack of experience in the realms of ballet, classical music, opera, and jazz, formerly the center’s mainstays, have concerned some onlookers.

— News Desk, Artforum, 9 Oct. 2026
Instead, Kahn said his objection concerned what other creative work gets overlooked when an event can screen only a limited number of films.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of concerned

Verb

More than half of people using AI at work worried that using it on important tasks would create exactly that impression.

— Christoph Trattner, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
At the very start of the pandemic, while most Americans were hunkered down, frightened for their lives and worried about job loss, RealPage hosted a virtual pep talk for landlords.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of worried

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“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of derailed

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