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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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
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.
-
At least until one of us gets distracted by some new slight from the British.
Verb
-
As was to be expected of these people, nothing had been disturbed.
-
Be sure to use the powder sparingly and in areas where it won't be disturbed or pose dust-inhalation risks, adds Ellis.
Verb
-
Hordes of soccer fans wearing Mexico and South Korea jerseys were walking down Olympic Boulevard energized but not alarmed in any way.
-
That alarmed some lawmakers about the risk of assessments on the rest of the market.
Verb
-
The messaging bothered Al-Shaair deeply and still does.
-
Neighbors bothered by crowing or other issues can file nuisance complaints with Animal Care and Control.
Verb
-
Manco only reluctantly starts carrying a gun after his first robbery, concerned that doing so would only lead to more violence.
-
Forecasters are concerned with the possibility of heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding in northern Arkansas Friday night into Saturday, according to a briefing from the National Weather Service.
Verb
-
Shami, overwhelmed with grief, was taken to the maternity ward to be monitored, with doctors worried about her and the baby.
-
OpenAI has worried that Elon Musk's company's initial rally and subsequent fall signals retail investors may have less interest in buying, the report said.
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.
-
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.
Verb
-
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.
-
By the time of the shooting in November 1999, the 5-foot-11, 194-pound Carruth was again being plagued by injuries.
Cite this Entry
“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
