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
Born in Mississippi before starring at Missouri, Smith’s NFL career derailed in 2013.
—
Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026
So Martin decided to move back home, his goal of living independently derailed by higher bills, from air conditioning to gas to groceries amid the ongoing US war with Iran.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
That could give the city and NCDOT more time to work through their differences and open a window to address the concerns that derailed it in the first place, Driggs said.
—Nicholas Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
The unprecedented size of SpaceX’s debut makes the market mechanics more complicated, and the fear of unexpected glitches like the ones that derailed Facebook’s IPO in 2012 is guaranteed to keep executives on edge.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Consider Esther, a young woman from a Nairobi neighborhood whose life was derailed by the absence of a birth certificate.
—Nicole F. Roberts, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Amid the disagreements, the White House was derailed by months of paralysis over how to handle the case.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 11 June 2026
Since a search committee named Bell the sole finalist on May 18, conservative activists and high-ranking Republican officials have scrutinized his past support for DEI initiatives at Alabama, raising the same concerns that derailed UF’s previous presidential search.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Trump understands the need to avoid a Republican wipeout like the 2018 midterms when Democrats flipped the House and derailed much of the final two years of his first-term plans.
—Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Michael McGough, Sacbee.com, 14 June 2026
So Martin decided to move back home, his goal of living independently derailed by higher bills, from air conditioning to gas to groceries amid the ongoing US war with Iran.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 13 June 2026
That could give the city and NCDOT more time to work through their differences and open a window to address the concerns that derailed it in the first place, Driggs said.
—Nicholas Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2026
The unprecedented size of SpaceX’s debut makes the market mechanics more complicated, and the fear of unexpected glitches like the ones that derailed Facebook’s IPO in 2012 is guaranteed to keep executives on edge.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 12 June 2026
Consider Esther, a young woman from a Nairobi neighborhood whose life was derailed by the absence of a birth certificate.
—Nicole F. Roberts, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Amid the disagreements, the White House was derailed by months of paralysis over how to handle the case.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 11 June 2026
Since a search committee named Bell the sole finalist on May 18, conservative activists and high-ranking Republican officials have scrutinized his past support for DEI initiatives at Alabama, raising the same concerns that derailed UF’s previous presidential search.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 10 June 2026
Trump understands the need to avoid a Republican wipeout like the 2018 midterms when Democrats flipped the House and derailed much of the final two years of his first-term plans.
—Patrick Whittle, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailed
Verb
-
Keys got distracted by Sikoa and Knight took control.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Items Made of Quality Materials Stephanie Wells recommends not getting distracted by looking for a particular type of item while thrifting but instead keeping your eyes open to a number of quality materials.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Small black ants are generally harmless, but a colony of leafcutter ants can annihilate food crops, and aggressive fire ants build huge mounds and deliver a painful sting when disturbed.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
10 June 2026
-
In many cases, birds and their nests are protected by wildlife laws, meaning active nests should not be disturbed.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Reflect Orbital’s plans also alarmed the Royal Astronomical Society, which said each beam could be four times brighter than the full moon, with the overall system potentially making the night sky three to four times brighter.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
The Lebanese government was alarmed by Israeli troops crossing its Litani River last month.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Even if he’s never bothered to pause and consider it.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
-
In some cases, these kinds of candidates have not even bothered to vote, let alone hold public office.—
Garry South,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Residents and city leaders alike were concerned about a facility of its type, regardless of size, operating so close to homes and parks.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
-
Throughout the series, Lennertz and Bowen were concerned with finding a musical language for the characters, and often tried to find corollaries in their instrumentation for the actors’ gestures and expressions.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Despite shooting 1-for-16 and committing five turnovers in the final period, Valkyries coach Nakase said nothing worried her about her team’s fourth quarter performance.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
-
Helen worried about Pip’s socialization.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
In 2022, a prominent former member of the national team was arrested for allegedly protesting against the country’s leadership, and star striker Sardar Azmoun wasn’t selected for the World Cup squad this year, reportedly because of a social media post that angered authorities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
-
The four leaders have also angered Trump by criticizing how he’s gone about executing the war and his lack of consultation with allies before jumping into a conflict that’s hurt the global economy as oil prices have surged.—
Aamer Madhani,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
This past offseason was a nightmare filled with mistakes, and the season has been plagued by one injury after another.—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The charming little burg is plagued by a perplexing dead body problem.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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