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
Back in Chicago, a Yellow Line train derailed on the city’s Far North Side during the evening rush hour Thursday, leading the Chicago Transit Authority to temporarily suspend service on a number of lines.
—
Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The former five-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon High still is growing into his career, especially after surgery for a congenital heart defect derailed his brief college experience at USC.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Bromfield had nearly finished converting the 25,000-square-foot brick building to apartments when the pandemic derailed his work.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
During the evening rush on Thursday, a Yellow Line train derailed in the rail yard near the Howard terminal in the Rogers Park neighborhood, prompting the CTA and firefighters to evacuate approximately 80 passengers from the train.
—Tara Molina, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
That early blunder may have derailed previous Quakes teams.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Divisions within Iran’s leadership appear to have derailed them, sources said.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The Panthers plucked nearly a dozen players from the Checkers over the course of the season to play at the NHL level as injuries derailed Florida’s roster.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Fun plans with friends could get derailed by questions of budget, and this isn’t something to sweep under the rug.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2026
Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The former five-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon High still is growing into his career, especially after surgery for a congenital heart defect derailed his brief college experience at USC.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Bromfield had nearly finished converting the 25,000-square-foot brick building to apartments when the pandemic derailed his work.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
During the evening rush on Thursday, a Yellow Line train derailed in the rail yard near the Howard terminal in the Rogers Park neighborhood, prompting the CTA and firefighters to evacuate approximately 80 passengers from the train.
—Tara Molina, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
That early blunder may have derailed previous Quakes teams.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Divisions within Iran’s leadership appear to have derailed them, sources said.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The Panthers plucked nearly a dozen players from the Checkers over the course of the season to play at the NHL level as injuries derailed Florida’s roster.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Fun plans with friends could get derailed by questions of budget, and this isn’t something to sweep under the rug.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailed
Verb
-
Mohan admits she had been distracted by personal problems, and wishes Robby well on his sabbatical.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Then the waiter gets distracted.—
Laura House,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When disturbed — by waves, predators or even a curious beachgoer’s touch — the organism emits a blue-green glow.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Courts also accord high deference to arbitration decisions and require extraordinary findings to vacate an arbitration award, meaning arbitration decisions are normally not disturbed or challenged.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mertes, a criminal defense attorney, was alarmed by the glut of dead people whose names turned up on a recent list of potential jurors in rural Whiteside County.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
While the prevalence of carfentanil still pales in comparison to fentanyl, experts are nevertheless alarmed by the increase of a substance researched for years as a chemical weapon and deployed by Russian forces on Chechen separatists in 2002.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There’s a big ensemble, elaborate costumes, a book that winks at every Rodgers and Hammerstein inconsistency that has ever bothered you, and, briefly, a dream ballet.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Only people like Dennis bothered to notice.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So far, the leagues haven’t directly addressed whether they are concerned by how public attention being paid to the military wagers and their apparent potential for manipulation could reflect on their own images.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Teams have their due diligence in these matters, and the Giants don’t seem to be concerned to spend the pick on him.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Concern increased nationwide, with animal rights activists worried the wolf would be injured in the wild or perhaps killed during his rescue.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
However, investors are worried fewer patients will seek care as Affordable Care Act subsidies phase out, or uncompensated care costs will rise.—
Christina Cheddar Berk,Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Many Canadians have also been angered by Trumps comments suggesting Canada become the 51st state.—
Jim Morris,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
This further angered anti-ICE protesters and led Americans to take to the streets in cities nationwide and call for the mass deportations to end.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Opposition lawmakers are demanding Starmer resign, arguing his appointment of Mandelson despite warnings about reputational risks demonstrates poor judgment that has plagued his tenure since July 2024.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
There were promising signs of life throughout, though, and the Red Sox did enough to supersede the issues that have plagued them throughout their 9-13 start.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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