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
Cal Coast then filed a lawsuit accusing SDCCU of intentionally derailing the merger without a valid cause.
—
Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
The truth is, most trip-derailing problems are entirely preventable with a bit of forethought and the right guidance.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
But instead of derailing her plans, the grief became a turning point.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
The Democrats’ maneuver risks derailing an effort that to date had been largely bipartisan.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2025
Even so, Cooper, whatever his pratfalls, doesn’t tumble into the trap of derailing his own movie.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Pet owners will also appreciate the dual-layer comb scraper that keeps hair and fur from derailing your cleaning game.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
Drexel visited her father in 2019 – and she, too, was prevented from leaving China for 11 months, derailing her plans to attend law school.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
The Texans’ defense draws the task of derailing Mac Jones, who has posted a 4-1 record while completing 67 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and four interceptions while starting in place of an injured Brock Purdy.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
The truth is, most trip-derailing problems are entirely preventable with a bit of forethought and the right guidance.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
But instead of derailing her plans, the grief became a turning point.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
The Democrats’ maneuver risks derailing an effort that to date had been largely bipartisan.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2025
Even so, Cooper, whatever his pratfalls, doesn’t tumble into the trap of derailing his own movie.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Pet owners will also appreciate the dual-layer comb scraper that keeps hair and fur from derailing your cleaning game.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 28 Nov. 2025
Drexel visited her father in 2019 – and she, too, was prevented from leaving China for 11 months, derailing her plans to attend law school.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
The Texans’ defense draws the task of derailing Mac Jones, who has posted a 4-1 record while completing 67 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and four interceptions while starting in place of an injured Brock Purdy.
—Mike Jones, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailing
Verb
-
If your knee is bothering you, for instance, the vibration might distract your brain enough for the pain to temporarily retreat.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Is a man bothering you at a bar?—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
It’s been only about three weeks since Trump toppled Maduro, and already a long line of other flashpoints — from immigration enforcement to Greenland — are distracting attention from what his administration is doing in Caracas.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The whole idea is to choose something that isn't too distracting.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Stress from disturbing events can drain a person’s cognitive bandwidth, even if output expectations remain the same.—
Paula Davis,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
This combination of sensors supports reliable sleep tracking without disturbing your night.—
Sleepal,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At a minimum, the investigation should be conducted swiftly, and Maryland residents should be informed of accountability steps taken to address these concerning allegations.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Jan. 2026
-
His daughter then explained Tate's content to him, leading Graham to find the influencer's reach particularly concerning, given that Tate is also under multiple investigations for human trafficking and rape.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After her husband took her pets out of the room, Bloor then faced the even more delicate task of safely removing herself from the bed without alarming the snake.—
Phil Boucher,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
-
While a small sample size, the historical record for what happens after the S & P 500 has a down month after a seven-month win streak is more reassuring than alarming for the near term.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Also worrying, said Malekan, is that the plan appeared designed to include all of its current business partners, some of which have direct financial ties to NYSE.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But Iranians have become angry and anxious, seeing footage of protesters shot and killed while worrying about what may happen next as the economy — the original focus of the protests — sinks further.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And all the while, our gutless politicians watch from the sidelines so as to not interfere and risk angering their party.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
-
With an economy that is persistently reliant on crude, pursuing policies that raise energy costs risks angering constituents.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Lululemon Athletica founder Chip Wilson has been agitating for change, and the outspoken critic now has activist investor Elliott Investment Management weighing in on a potential chief executive officer candidate.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
18 Dec. 2025
-
Washing machines take care of that with their tumbling or agitating action.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
27 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailing. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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