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
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
Craving something sweet doesn’t have to mean derailing your health goals.
—Jennifer Berger, Verywell Health, 20 Apr. 2026
The team took hit after hit, injuries derailing their roster regularly with almost no reprieve across the six-month schedule.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
This season didn't go nearly as well, with injuries to key veterans like Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and DeAndre Hunter derailing the campaign almost from the start.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
This season didn't go nearly as well, with injuries to key veterans like Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and DeAndre Hunter derailing the campaign almost from the start.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
Emergency managers from several states say the funding backlog is having a ripple effect in communities, straining local budgets and delaying or potentially derailing disaster projects that have taken years to plan.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Candidates who lost have pointed their fingers at special interests, blaming them for derailing their campaigns.
—Leah Askarinam, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
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
Craving something sweet doesn’t have to mean derailing your health goals.
—Jennifer Berger, Verywell Health, 20 Apr. 2026
The team took hit after hit, injuries derailing their roster regularly with almost no reprieve across the six-month schedule.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
This season didn't go nearly as well, with injuries to key veterans like Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and DeAndre Hunter derailing the campaign almost from the start.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
This season didn't go nearly as well, with injuries to key veterans like Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray and DeAndre Hunter derailing the campaign almost from the start.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
Emergency managers from several states say the funding backlog is having a ripple effect in communities, straining local budgets and delaying or potentially derailing disaster projects that have taken years to plan.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
Candidates who lost have pointed their fingers at special interests, blaming them for derailing their campaigns.
—Leah Askarinam, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailing
Verb
-
Sit there like nothing is bothering you.—
Chris Spargo,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps his most notable friendship is with loyal longtime bodyguard Bill Bray (Keilyn Durrel Jones) and, to a lesser extent, his savvy manager John Branca (Miles Teller in a distracting wig).—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Punk was taking off the tape from his hands and threw it onto the ring, distracting the referee enough to hit Reigns with a low blow.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then jurors heard disturbing sounds of banging — and choking, according to the Star-Telegram.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
And inside the actual pillow, there are only those air sacs, which inflate and deflate to slightly change pressure points throughout the night – silently and without disturbing your slumber, or anyone else's.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Equally concerning is that requiring twice as many workers per case without a plan to recruit or retain them risks widespread gaps in care.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The technique still needs sanding, and zero interceptions in 48 career games is concerning, but McCutchin’s combine testing gave his draft case a nice shot of nitrous.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Medieval schoolmen worrying over Aristotle could be pedants; so could cultivated female salonnières in seventeenth-century Paris.—
Clare Bucknell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The technology intentionally comes lacking a human face, and its evangelists have both over-promised regarding what the tools can do in the short term while worrying people about the long-term societal impacts.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mamdani’s also done an about-face on the city’s rental assistance program, CityFHEPs, angering progressive allies.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This causes a rift within the family, particularly angering the eldest son, Erik, who feels deeply betrayed.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And Anderson is said to be behaving impeccably in not agitating for a move.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Pour in egg mixture and immediately stir with a heatproof rubber spatula, incorporating ham and gently agitating eggs, and running it along edges until sides begin to bubble, about 30 seconds.—
Inés Anguiano,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailing. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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