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
Fifth derails Burrows For four innings, Burrows resembled the pitcher the Astros saw all spring.
—
Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 19 Apr. 2026
Since tomorrow is never promised, many Americans who put off planning could face a health care emergency that derails their travel, leisure and other retirement plans, advisers said.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Then the studio structured trailers and marketing around an unspecified, unspeakable disclosure by Zendaya’s character that derails the wedding plans (and imperils the characters’ romantic union) to stoke maximum curiosity.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026
Women’s Health Network notes that hormonal fluctuations trigger cortisol release that actively derails the circadian sleep cycle, and women in this transition are more vulnerable to adrenal stress responses than at any other life stage.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Hormonal fluctuations trigger cortisol release that derails the normal circadian sleep cycle, and women in this transition are more vulnerable to adrenal stress responses.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
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
Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 19 Apr. 2026
Since tomorrow is never promised, many Americans who put off planning could face a health care emergency that derails their travel, leisure and other retirement plans, advisers said.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Then the studio structured trailers and marketing around an unspecified, unspeakable disclosure by Zendaya’s character that derails the wedding plans (and imperils the characters’ romantic union) to stoke maximum curiosity.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2026
Women’s Health Network notes that hormonal fluctuations trigger cortisol release that actively derails the circadian sleep cycle, and women in this transition are more vulnerable to adrenal stress responses than at any other life stage.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Hormonal fluctuations trigger cortisol release that derails the normal circadian sleep cycle, and women in this transition are more vulnerable to adrenal stress responses.
—Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derails
Verb
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Morgan concluded the practice, completing another one of Chesney’s specialties where the entire team distracts the return man from fielding a punt.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
7 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
-
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
-
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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Jessica Klein, a researcher with the center, worries about the consequences.—
Taylor Sisk,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Drought usually peaks in summer, not spring, and that’s what worries meteorologists.—
Seth Borenstein,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 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
-
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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Heightened security is coming to Tybee Island this weekend as the controversial Orange Crush festival returns, bringing with it concerns over a recent surge in unpermitted teen takeovers.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
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Lack of in-home nurses; baby dies Much of Middlebrooks’ order, and the appeals court ruling that affirms it, concerns the in-home nursing care that parents of medically complex children rely upon.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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 22 Apr. 2026.
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