as in bothering
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 derailing
This resulted in the carriage at the top of the street increasing in speed down the slope and later derailing, GPIAAF’s report found.
—
Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Smith-Schuster lasted just seven snaps before missing the next three games, derailing any momentum.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025
However, gut feelings and guesswork will only result in unreliable data, derailing your forecast and robbing you of the ability to anticipate revenue, manage resources and make the informed decisions necessary to drive your company’s growth.
—Julie Thomas, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Picquart reopens the investigation and pushes for a retrial, butting heads with his superiors and with a disloyal, antisemitic subordinate (Grégory Gadebois)—ultimately derailing his military career in the pursuit of justice.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025
Israel's Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, criticised Australia's decision on social media platform X as undermining Israel's security and derailing hostage negotiations.
—Kirsty Needham, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Smith-Schuster lasted just seven snaps before missing the next three games, derailing any momentum.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2025
However, gut feelings and guesswork will only result in unreliable data, derailing your forecast and robbing you of the ability to anticipate revenue, manage resources and make the informed decisions necessary to drive your company’s growth.
—Julie Thomas, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
Picquart reopens the investigation and pushes for a retrial, butting heads with his superiors and with a disloyal, antisemitic subordinate (Grégory Gadebois)—ultimately derailing his military career in the pursuit of justice.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025
Israel's Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, criticised Australia's decision on social media platform X as undermining Israel's security and derailing hostage negotiations.
—Kirsty Needham, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailing
Verb
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So, at least for now, Chamorro is not bothering with the official Pop Mart drops.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
24 Aug. 2025
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While there is still hope that Clark can return this season from the groin injury that has been bothering her, there is no guarantee of that becoming a reality.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The front-dash-spanning 48-inch screen is the headline feature, and, inside the car, almost the eyeline feature, but not a distracting one, despite its width.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
2 Sep. 2025
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This can be distracting in smooth soups or sauces, but barely noticeable in more rustic dishes.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Two players take on the roles of a brother and sister who are searching for their missing buddies on an island inhabited by some rather disturbing monsters.—
Joshua Lamb,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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In 2020, 13-year-old Lauryn Licari and her middle-school boyfriend, Owen McKenny, started getting constant graphic and disturbing messages from an unknown number out of the blue.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ten Hag’s first season at United yielded silverware and a third-place league finish, but also had bouts of concerning away form, with tactical weaknesses that would eventually spread and critically undermine his plans for the future.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
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Far more concerning is the fact that the median age of onset for eating disorders in the United States coincides with the typical age of college enrollment.—
Mallary Tenore Tarpley,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The tackling was alarming enough that the Broncos were practicing on Monday with live tackles, something that’s not seen too often once the season starts.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Sep. 2025
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The news was saddening for Jewell — but also alarming for the defense.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Patients often wait until the doctor is standing up to leave before blurting out their real concern, which is typically a sensitive or time-consuming problem, such as wanting to start birth control, having painful periods, or worrying about pregnancy or STDs.—
Dr. Jill Grimes,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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Losing or leaving a job is already stressful enough without worrying about when your last paycheck will show up.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In particular, the new logo is the latest in a string of changes angering some of its loyal fans who fear the 56-year-old chain is drifting too far from its bucolic roots.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
21 Aug. 2025
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Starbase, which Texas voters in Cameron County approved in May to become its own town, attracted some controversy in June when commissioners with the city of Starbase voted unanimously to close several of the city’s public streets to outsiders, angering longtime residents and property owners.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Strand Larsen has been keen on the possibility of the move but is not agitating to leave Wolves.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
25 Aug. 2025
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Washing machines take care of that with their tumbling or agitating action.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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