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
Majors is mounting a comeback of his own after a misdemeanor assault conviction derailed his career.
—
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
The 30-year-old had finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2018, but injuries derailed his time with the New York Yankees.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
However, a fibula fracture derailed him last year.
—Mike Barner, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The arrest became the talk of the town among Miami’s political class, with insiders pointing to one particular vice as a significant factor that may have derailed his once-promising comeback.
—Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
The Associated Press reported that a 19th-century streetcar in Lisbon derailed and crashed during the evening rush hour.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
The Niners are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 season a year ago, as injuries derailed their hopes of another playoff push.
—Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
At least 15 people were killed when a world-famous funicular railcar derailed and overturned in Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Despite opposition from Democrats — including a quorum break that derailed an earlier special session — Republican lawmakers successfully ushered in a new congressional map that positions Republicans to pick up five seats in Congress.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025
The 30-year-old had finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2018, but injuries derailed his time with the New York Yankees.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
However, a fibula fracture derailed him last year.
—Mike Barner, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The arrest became the talk of the town among Miami’s political class, with insiders pointing to one particular vice as a significant factor that may have derailed his once-promising comeback.
—Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
The Associated Press reported that a 19th-century streetcar in Lisbon derailed and crashed during the evening rush hour.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
The Niners are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 season a year ago, as injuries derailed their hopes of another playoff push.
—Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
At least 15 people were killed when a world-famous funicular railcar derailed and overturned in Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
Despite opposition from Democrats — including a quorum break that derailed an earlier special session — Republican lawmakers successfully ushered in a new congressional map that positions Republicans to pick up five seats in Congress.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailed
Verb
-
The walk to the penalty spot didn’t feel long for Bronze, partly because she was distracted by the strapping.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
First published in 1985, the book warned that the threat to American democracy came not from state repression, but from a culture distracted by amusement.—
Time,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Vic and Cali hadn’t wanted a wedding, but this had disturbed Vic’s parents.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Some civil servants working to bolster democracy around the world and at home, for example, were disturbed by shifts in foreign policy.—
Yvonne Zylan,
The Conversation,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
China's nuclear arsenal has especially alarmed Washington and its allies.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Yet more investors are growing alarmed by efforts by the current administration to oust members of the Fed board of governors for new appointees.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And she couldn’t be bothered to start things up again.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
-
No one has ever bothered me for doing this.—
R29 Team,
Refinery29,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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It should not be confused with Article 5, the cornerstone of the alliance, which states an armed attack on one NATO ally will be considered an act of violence against all members and prompt assistance to the member concerned.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
-
However, the very first question—and for any space reporter, the obvious one—concerned NASA's on-again, off-again plan to return rocks from the surface of Mars for study on Earth.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Such incidents, in the past, would have had her run home, and write about them furiously in her journal, worried that forgetting them would erase the blessings corresponded to it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Luka’s policy change was motivated in part by regulatory pressure, especially in Italy, where officials worried that Replika posed a risk to minors and emotionally fragile users.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, sharp spending cuts have angered many, while corruption allegations against senior officials have dented his party’s odds ahead of next month’s vote, which could determine the future of Milei’s presidency.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Some of the most passionate television fans are those who watch Big Brother, and the latest game twist has angered them, creating a backlash on social media.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
By surviving more than 3,500 cycles, the material demonstrated an unusually high degree of durability for this class of batteries, which are often plagued by rapid capacity fade.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Yet, the industry is plagued by low wages and high turnover rates.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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