derailing

verb

present participle of derail
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 derailing Adopting The Discipline Of Subtraction Preparing an enterprise for significant change is about clearing the path so the organization can move at full speed without derailing. — Susana Cabrera, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 The analysts wrote that a common fear among investors is that the scale of infrastructure investment required for electrification becomes too expensive, derailing the sector’s growth. — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 17 July 2026 And Johnson’s gambit to attach the SAVE America Act to important legislation risks not only derailing bipartisan policy but another government shutdown, too. — Sorelle Wyckoff Gaynor, The Conversation, 17 July 2026 The flying sneaker couldn't have come at a worse time, derailing New York's furious comeback after the Liberty entered the fourth quarter down 16. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026 He was struck by a car during his freshman year at Clemson University, derailing that season. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 11 July 2026 The back-and-forth risks derailing sensitive negotiations in the Pine Tree State that will determine who could appear on the ballot in Platner's place. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 8 July 2026 Iranian attacks on tankers, plus drone and missile strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait, risk derailing fragile negotiations and underscore how quickly the Gulf conflict could again spiral. — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 Pressuring Republicans, and derailing a bipartisan housing bill to press for a proof of citizenship voting bill. — NBC news, 28 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailing
  1. bothering
  2. distracting
  3. disturbing
  4. concerning
  5. alarming
  6. worrying
  7. angering
  8. agitating
Verb
  • Wasps are generally more interested in building their colony and finding food than in bothering people.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
  • But after going ahead, England manager Thomas Tuchel tried to shut the back door by throwing on countless defenders and not bothering to attack Argentina anymore.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Definition of bothering
Verb
  • The Art of Peripheral Focus One of the primary challenges of a 270-degree projection is ensuring the peripheral imagery enhances the experience without distracting from the central narrative.
    — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • In the context of tens of thousands of DPS students who aren’t making gains quickly enough to ever meet proficiency levels, such fanfare is essentially distracting braggadocio.
    — Elaine Gantz Berman, Denver Post, 27 July 2026
Definition of distracting
Verb
  • Harper’s left behind records detailing disturbing behavior that seem not to have been based in fact.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 30 July 2026
  • Out of competition The world of elite sports is taken to disturbing new heights full of brutality and painful ambition in the new film from Nikias Chryssos (The Bunker, Rave On, A Pure Place).
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
Definition of disturbing
Verb
  • Another exec from a team in need of a catcher said Goodman’s defense was so concerning that his club did not even check with the Rockies about their price.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 27 July 2026
  • The committee separately released records concerning Fauci’s awards and prize money.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 July 2026
Definition of concerning
Verb
  • In Orange County, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County maintains infectious-disease surveillance and disease-reporting services for residents and visitors, which is exactly how local systems stay ready without alarming the public.
    — Luis E. Caso Vega, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 July 2026
  • So, even just the unusual presence of an aircraft in this area made this incident alarming for one resident, Anna, who spoke to CNN near the scene.
    — Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
Definition of alarming
Verb
  • This can help address the root cause of behaviors such as spending excessive time in bed awake, maintaining irregular sleep schedules, and conditioned arousal such as worrying about sleep.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 31 July 2026
  • Why Co-Viewing Matters Today In 2026, parents spend a lot of time worrying about screen time.
    — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 31 July 2026
Definition of worrying
Verb
  • Leaders of the Maine Democratic Party are still working toward a process to replace Graham Platner, without angering his supporters.
    — Dan Merica, Washington Post, 9 July 2026
  • The mayor floated the idea to place Williams on probation for six months, angering the city manager’s supporters in the crowd.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Definition of angering
Verb
  • Kucherov’s 51 points in 42 career regular-season games and agitating awesomeness against Florida have him at the top of the list.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026
  • Washing machines take care of that with their tumbling or agitating action.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
Definition of agitating

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Cite this Entry

“Derailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailing. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of derailing for Spanish Speakers

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