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
The dispute risks derailing the discussions on a truce extension, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and future talks over Iran’s nuclear program.
—
Arsalan Shahla, Fortune, 7 June 2026
The toxic dating myth that's derailing our relationships Being unbothered and nonchalant has become a dating ideal, accelerated by a swiping culture that has eroded our ability to connect in person.
—Sabrina Romanoff, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Throughout the finale, Niall continues to struggle with his identity, using chemsex parties as a crutch that are slowly but surely derailing his life.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 2026
The broken wheel led to 10 train cars derailing, the accident report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2026
At one point early on, high levels of soil contaminants become a concern at fields across the region, almost derailing the whole season.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Cal Coast then accused SDCCU of intentionally derailing the merger without a valid cause.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
State AGs have notched some successes recently, temporarily derailing the merger of big broadcasters Nexstar and Tegna and obtaining a settlement from Live Nation.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Jet fuel costs have roughly doubled since the start of the war in Iran, derailing Spirit’s plans to emerge from its second bankruptcy reorganization since 2024.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Arsalan Shahla, Fortune, 7 June 2026
The toxic dating myth that's derailing our relationships Being unbothered and nonchalant has become a dating ideal, accelerated by a swiping culture that has eroded our ability to connect in person.
—Sabrina Romanoff, CNBC, 5 June 2026
Throughout the finale, Niall continues to struggle with his identity, using chemsex parties as a crutch that are slowly but surely derailing his life.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 29 May 2026
The broken wheel led to 10 train cars derailing, the accident report said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2026
At one point early on, high levels of soil contaminants become a concern at fields across the region, almost derailing the whole season.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Cal Coast then accused SDCCU of intentionally derailing the merger without a valid cause.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
State AGs have notched some successes recently, temporarily derailing the merger of big broadcasters Nexstar and Tegna and obtaining a settlement from Live Nation.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Jet fuel costs have roughly doubled since the start of the war in Iran, derailing Spirit’s plans to emerge from its second bankruptcy reorganization since 2024.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailing
Verb
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Brunson turned on the boosters in the second half, attacking the Spurs' defense and showing little sign that his knee was bothering him.—
Alejandro Avila,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
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If certain smells or experiences are bothering you, here are some other tips for managing postpartum odor and sweat.—
Dory Zayas,
Parents,
28 May 2026
Verb
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The formal obligation to bow or curtsy will force targets to bend a knee and break eye contact—a perfect opening for the President to place something distracting like a Twix bar on their heads.—
Dahlia Gallin Ramirez,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
-
Reid plays this so well, but the direction is a little over the top, with drug-trip visuals that are too distracting to follow the dense-as-ever disjointed narration.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The lawsuit filed Thursday by Karen Read against Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police revealed a long history of disturbing text messages between former police officers Michael Proctor and Sean Goode that allegedly included racial slurs, sexist comments and other offensive material.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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The hunt does not require digging or disturbing the terrain in any way, organizers said.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Finding baby squirrels in your yard can be both heartwarming and concerning.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
7 June 2026
-
This year, Consumer Reports tested 49 more formulas and found concerning levels of contaminants in 26 of them.—
Rachel Fobar,
Daily News,
7 June 2026
Verb
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The alerts were triggered by the severe thunderstorm moving through the area, alarming some residents who were unaware the city’s siren system now also goes off when a severe weather warning is issued by the National Weather Service.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
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Midway through my massage, the boat unmoored itself and set sail—setting off an initially alarming vibrating bed and whirring engine noise.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Before worrying about advanced technology, look at your foundation.—
Boris Dzhingarov,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Lindsay is very real for worrying about her pit stains.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
Verb
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The Star, which also looked into the killing, revealed that Jordan’s associations with organized crime figures, as well as his apparent disregard for angering them, likely contributed to his death.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
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In the biblical Tower of Babel story, humans are driven by hubris to try to create a tower tall enough to touch the sky, angering God in the process.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
25 May 2026
Verb
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At this point, those agitating against the merger might see their most realistic option being to lobby for conditions on the merger, such as job-protection guarantees or production minimums.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
8 May 2026
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For years, Mira has been agitating for more independence.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailing. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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