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 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
This one, coming off the back of two hugely disappointing, trophy-ending, and potentially derailing defeats, was one of their best of the season.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Officiating became an incendiary subplot; controversial calls and no-calls stirred the pot in the first half without ever completely derailing the game once Denver and San Antonio got down to business later.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
The packing mistakes range from a minor inconvenience to derailing the first day or two of a trip.
—Jamie Davis Smith, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
The semi-autobiographical book chronicles the derailing life of Esther Greenwood, a talented undergraduate student who begins an internship with a New York City magazine.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Toppin almost certainly was going to earn his share of honors prior to the injury derailing his campaign.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
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
This one, coming off the back of two hugely disappointing, trophy-ending, and potentially derailing defeats, was one of their best of the season.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Officiating became an incendiary subplot; controversial calls and no-calls stirred the pot in the first half without ever completely derailing the game once Denver and San Antonio got down to business later.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
The packing mistakes range from a minor inconvenience to derailing the first day or two of a trip.
—Jamie Davis Smith, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
The semi-autobiographical book chronicles the derailing life of Esther Greenwood, a talented undergraduate student who begins an internship with a New York City magazine.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Mar. 2026
Toppin almost certainly was going to earn his share of honors prior to the injury derailing his campaign.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailing
Verb
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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
-
Both players scored in double figures on Sunday, but Santos was ruled out against the Kings because of a pelvis injury that has been bothering him for weeks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Declutter the Exterior Clutter outside your home is just as distracting as clutter inside.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Not all Mauss’s material lends equally well to visualizations, and there are moments in the special when the animations are more distracting than additive.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fitbits also feature silent alarms; the tracker will vibrate at a specific time and gently wake you up without disturbing others.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In March, as Sonko made his way to court to face the charges, he was arrested for disturbing public order after supporters rallied around him; his arrest sparked days of protests that resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No details have been released concerning the arrest.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps more concerning is an issue with Orion’s service module, which is the cylindrical attachment at the base of the crew capsule that provides oxygen, power supplies and propulsion throughout the flight.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Recently, something new appeared on the landscape, alarming wildlife advocates like Christina Aiello.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Horner also talked about being concerned about losing his job, wanting to see his child and worrying about what was going to happen to him, Espinoza said.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
When health plans, providers, and policymakers work together, families can spend less time worrying about costs and more time focusing on their health.—
Anthem Blue Cross California,
Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This causes a rift within the family, particularly angering the eldest son, Erik, who feels deeply betrayed.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
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The administration also decided to allow the up to 80,000 metric tons of low-tariff, lower-quality beef from Argentina to be imported to help keep grocery prices down, angering cattle ranchers who argue the decision will hurt domestic production and sales.—
Jennifer Jacobs,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But for Russell, these examples show the danger lurking on the path of now agitating inside Mercedes, to somehow put Antonelli off his new stride.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
9 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 13 Apr. 2026.
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