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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Recent Examples of derailed
State lawmakers have stepped back from earlier, wider-ranging attempts to regulate AI that were vetoed or otherwise derailed by governors who viewed the measures as too onerous toward the industry’s development, including efforts to hold developers accountable for bias in AI systems.
—
Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
To play without a superstar like Pulisic could have derailed previous American teams in World Cup play.
—Andrew Destin, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
While Trout sounded optimistic about his chances of playing outfield in the upcoming All-Star game in Philadelphia, the latest injury setback might have derailed those plans.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
Playing without a talent like Pulisic could have derailed previous American World Cup teams.
—Andrew Destin, Fortune, 20 June 2026
Wood’s career was derailed by injuries, leading to worries of hard throwers being susceptible to blowing out pitching arms.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
Lindy Ruff’s system was a tough fit, and a nasty ankle injury derailed his initial momentum in upstate New York.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
But his career in England was derailed by serious injuries.
—Cameron Lancaster, New York Times, 17 June 2026
An eye injury derailed his career as a slugging catcher at UConn.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026
Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
To play without a superstar like Pulisic could have derailed previous American teams in World Cup play.
—Andrew Destin, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2026
While Trout sounded optimistic about his chances of playing outfield in the upcoming All-Star game in Philadelphia, the latest injury setback might have derailed those plans.
—Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
Playing without a talent like Pulisic could have derailed previous American World Cup teams.
—Andrew Destin, Fortune, 20 June 2026
Wood’s career was derailed by injuries, leading to worries of hard throwers being susceptible to blowing out pitching arms.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
Lindy Ruff’s system was a tough fit, and a nasty ankle injury derailed his initial momentum in upstate New York.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
But his career in England was derailed by serious injuries.
—Cameron Lancaster, New York Times, 17 June 2026
An eye injury derailed his career as a slugging catcher at UConn.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailed
Verb
-
The researchers wanted to examine whether young people who perceived their caregivers as frequently distracted by digital devices were more likely to report what’s called insecure attachment styles.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
At least until one of us gets distracted by some new slight from the British.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Use these pots for transplanting seedlings that don’t like having their roots disturbed.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
-
Nothing seemed out of place or disturbed.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Hordes of soccer fans wearing Mexico and South Korea jerseys were walking down Olympic Boulevard energized but not alarmed in any way.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
That alarmed some lawmakers about the risk of assessments on the rest of the market.—
Gray Rohrer,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The messaging bothered Al-Shaair deeply and still does.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
-
Neighbors bothered by crowing or other issues can file nuisance complaints with Animal Care and Control.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The hearing on 18 June 2026 concerned Hussain’s application for summary judgment under CPR 24.—
Susie Violet Ward,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Step 1 — Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
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But local opposition has been rising too, with communities worried about the power and water demands of the centers, as well as any potential health effects.—
Asia Alexander,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
People who worried that recycling or reselling a device would compromise their data were 14% and 9% more likely to store it instead.—
Eric Williams,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Though both agree that in real life, Berlant would fit in more easily than Early, who, during a break from the shoot, angered a trio of local Hamptonites merely by using the bathroom at a Citarella.—
Mark Seliger,
Vulture,
22 June 2026
-
Though net migration is down, many are angered by migrants entering the country illegally — specifically the sight of people, often escaping war zones such as Afghanistan and Sudan, arriving on British shores in inflatable boats after making the dangerous journey across the English Channel.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Yet within weeks of Trump declaring the rehabilitation completed in time for Independence Day, the water was plagued by a vivid green algae bloom that clouded the pool’s coating.—
Nathan Ellgren,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
-
By the time of the shooting in November 1999, the 5-foot-11, 194-pound Carruth was again being plagued by injuries.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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