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
-
The Lebanese government was alarmed by Israeli troops crossing its Litani River last month.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
8 June 2026
-
The unprecedentedly large numbers of killings alarmed Western governments.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
But former captain Landon Donovan is bothered by the fact that no American side since 2002 has won a knockout-round game and reached the quarterfinals.—
Julian Cardillo,
Boston Herald,
9 June 2026
-
Be specific about what behaviors bothered the rest of the group, and tell him no one is willing to travel with her again.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
8 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
-
Blanche has also defended the Justice Department seeking charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has angered conservatives in recent years, under his leadership.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
High ticket prices and exorbitant transportation and parking fees have angered fans and drawn the attention of politicians and state attorneys general.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The new officers will take their leadership positions amid strength in Tyson Foods’ chicken and prepared foods segments, while the beef segment has been plagued by multi-million dollar operating losses.—
Dylan Sherman,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2026
-
In Seasons 1-4, that vicar is Sidney Chambers (James Norton), a jazz enthusiast plagued by memories of WWII who offers unsolicited insights to gruff and initially ungrateful Det.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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