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 For the third time in a year, his young career has been temporarily derailed by an injury — this time, a thumb ailment that will sideline him into August. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026 But those plans were derailed on Thursday when Egyptian authorities blocked the ship, the Scarlet Lady, from entering its waters at the last minute, according to Atlantis Events, days after the vessel was refused entry to Turkey. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 11 July 2026 But a sluggish start quickly derailed his round, as bogeys on two of his first three holes dropped him behind the cut line. — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 It wasn’t meant to be, though, as an injury setback derailed the then-23-year-old’s 2025 season and put his big league dreams on hold. — Fisher Isbell, AJC.com, 11 July 2026 After injuries derailed her promising elite career and the sport’s abusive culture robbed her of her joy, Ohashi reached superstar status while rediscovering her love of the sport with UCLA. — Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 Her plans are derailed when a mysterious fluid begins flowing from her navel and transforms into a perfect but uncontrollable duplicate of herself. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 July 2026 One year, my family’s Yom Kippur break-fast meal was very nearly derailed when my dad got into an argument with one of our guests about the Rosenbergs. — Amy Weiss-Meyer, The Atlantic, 10 July 2026 Thereby hangs Colloff’s spellbinding tale of a justice system derailed by biases. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailed

Verb

Although the extramarital affair made headlines at the time of Schettino’s trial, there was no evidence presented to say that he was distracted as a result of Cemortan’s presence.

— Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
Roschelle had seemed distracted lately, going to a bunch of doctors’ appointments, talking to Sapphire late at night.

— Jessica Contrera, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Definition of distracted

Verb

The idea of abandoning the whole schedule alarmed several health officials, including then-FDA commissioner Marty Makary and Tracy Beth Høeg, one of his top deputies, four sources said.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
The prospect of mass deportations to a country reeling from deadly gang warfare, a deepening humanitarian emergency and record numbers of people who have fled their homes has alarmed Haitians at home and abroad.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026

Definition of alarmed

Verb

The knee has mostly bothered Ohtani on the mound, rather than at the plate.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 18 July 2026
As of the time of this writing, almost four months after its publication, the text still contains a typo in its opening lines, suggesting to me that no one close to the author has even bothered to read it with care.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026

Definition of bothered

Verb

The turnout that many were concerned had also been hurt by high ticket prices ended up being better than those first projections.

— Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
But, as far as New Mexico’s place on the primary calendar was concerned, the committee member had a different idea.

— Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 10 July 2026

Definition of concerned

Verb

Earlier this year, investors worried artificial intelligence would disrupt the industry.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 16 July 2026
But fighting that erupted in the Middle East days later upended that trajectory, pushing bond yields and mortgage rates higher as investors worried the conflict would keep oil prices and inflation elevated.

— Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Definition of worried

Verb

They also have been angered by Kennedy’s attempts to link vaccines to autism, going against decades of research that show no such link, and his framing of autism as a debilitating disease.

— Annie Ma, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
They've also been angered by Kennedy's attempts to link vaccines to autism, going against decades of research that show no such link, and his framing of autism as a debilitating disease.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026

Definition of angered

Verb

Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey follows the incredible journey of King Odysseus back to his kingdom of Ithaca, plagued by mythical perils along the way.

— Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 13 July 2026
That’s a far cry from the financial troubles that plagued the club more than two decades ago.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 13 July 2026

Definition of plagued

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“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of derailed

verb

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