as in distracts
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 derails
His relationship with his young son is profoundly altered by an unexpected encounter that derails his work and his sense of purpose.
—
Alexandra Zagalsky, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
Looking ahead, Wewel sounded a note of caution on the current spike, suggesting that silver's risk/return balance could falter if the current momentum derails.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
Just as Rome anchored a vast empire, character development anchors our understanding of why bright‑side leadership derails and why dark‑side leadership endures.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Per the logline, Geonhwa is an exceptionally adept and seasoned dealer who has lived a life far removed from the vices of the casino floor, who finds her life upended when a housing scam derails her newlywed plans.
—Peter White, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Misinformation derails a solution for misinformation One example of false narratives having an impact was the fate of something called Senate Bill 549, says Julia Stein, deputy director for the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law.
—Julia Simon, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
But they can’t get caught up looking for a short-term solution that derails their long-term plan of development.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Charmast Portable Charger with Built-in Cables Travelers know that nothing derails a trip faster than a dead phone battery.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 3 Dec. 2025
After the train derails in a tunnel, palace staff begin evacuating — but moments later, a horrifying explosion kills Camilla’s private secretary, Sir Peregrine Greaves.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Alexandra Zagalsky, TheWeek, 4 Mar. 2026
Looking ahead, Wewel sounded a note of caution on the current spike, suggesting that silver's risk/return balance could falter if the current momentum derails.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
Just as Rome anchored a vast empire, character development anchors our understanding of why bright‑side leadership derails and why dark‑side leadership endures.
—Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Per the logline, Geonhwa is an exceptionally adept and seasoned dealer who has lived a life far removed from the vices of the casino floor, who finds her life upended when a housing scam derails her newlywed plans.
—Peter White, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Misinformation derails a solution for misinformation One example of false narratives having an impact was the fate of something called Senate Bill 549, says Julia Stein, deputy director for the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at UCLA School of Law.
—Julia Simon, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
But they can’t get caught up looking for a short-term solution that derails their long-term plan of development.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026
Charmast Portable Charger with Built-in Cables Travelers know that nothing derails a trip faster than a dead phone battery.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 3 Dec. 2025
After the train derails in a tunnel, palace staff begin evacuating — but moments later, a horrifying explosion kills Camilla’s private secretary, Sir Peregrine Greaves.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derails
Verb
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That is when Harbaugh will be able to crystallize for players like Cam Skattebo that football is the priority, and any outside nonsense that distracts from the goal of winning games is not going to be tolerated anymore.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Reading chairs can become hotspots for clutter, which distracts from rest.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Leo moon disturbs unconscious patterns that are ready to be interrupted.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Removing nodules from the ocean floor disturbs the silty seabed that's home to many organisms, like worms and small crustaceans, the scientists found.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His approach is to look at what bothers that person the most.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The political rhetoric aimed at ridiculing Canada bothers Johnson.—
Jeanne Bonner,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Wade reportedly worries audiences may think her performances are imitating an idea Swift created due to the 14-time Grammy Award winning singer’s enormous popularity.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Much of what the farms sell is on contract with prices already set, which means those costs will have to be absorbed for now, said Parra, who worries many state crops could see lower sales as prices eventually rise in markets.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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LaCava said the change seems like another city policy that angers many residents without major impact.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
What angers me is thinking about what could have been.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Whether that future excites or alarms fans, the law—not nostalgia or tradition—will determine who suits up in March.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
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The development of Moltbook, with AI bots forming their own social media, alarms him.—
Joe Hagan,
Vanity Fair,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What concerns her most is that the current moment is reshuffling economic roles without doing the deeper cultural work.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Miller’s 1968 play, written during the agonizing days of the Vietnam War, concerns the disposition of the remains of a once-illustrious estate.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An unexpected visitor at the ER later unsettles both patients and staff.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
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Diana’s death unsettles both John and Carolyn in the series.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derails. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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