1
as in railings
a protective barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and its supports
the stairs are icy, so hold onto the rail
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rails
Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The entire structure – including substructure, culvert and guard rails – is in need of an overhaul.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Jaroslav Chmelar scored his first career NHL goal a few minutes after Lafreniere put the Rangers up, bringing some joy to the team and crowd at the three-quarter mark of a season that long ago went off the rails.
—CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
But a competitive game went off the rails at about the time that Malkin went off the rails.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Together, the grimy pair start riding the rails across the country, watching movies starring Frank’s favorite actor, Ronnie Reed (Jake Gyllenhaal), and somehow sparking a feminist plot to overthrow the kinds of mean gangsters who killed Ida in the first place.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
The race began to go off the rails when the frontrunners were still about 13 unlucky minutes away from the fateful intersection.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
The controller halves are mounted on sliding rails.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 2 Mar. 2026
At this point, the show really goes off the rails.
—Patrick R. Crowley, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
One has just gone off the rails, and one has stayed completely on the rails.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 8 Mar. 2026
The entire structure – including substructure, culvert and guard rails – is in need of an overhaul.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Jaroslav Chmelar scored his first career NHL goal a few minutes after Lafreniere put the Rangers up, bringing some joy to the team and crowd at the three-quarter mark of a season that long ago went off the rails.
—CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
But a competitive game went off the rails at about the time that Malkin went off the rails.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Together, the grimy pair start riding the rails across the country, watching movies starring Frank’s favorite actor, Ronnie Reed (Jake Gyllenhaal), and somehow sparking a feminist plot to overthrow the kinds of mean gangsters who killed Ida in the first place.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
The race began to go off the rails when the frontrunners were still about 13 unlucky minutes away from the fateful intersection.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
The controller halves are mounted on sliding rails.
—Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 2 Mar. 2026
At this point, the show really goes off the rails.
—Patrick R. Crowley, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rails
Noun
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The interiors are also full of striking contrasts, with maple wood paneling playing against iron-beam ceilings and glass railings.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
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The first-floor entrance lobby and six-story atrium, including terrazzo floors, concrete walls, skylights and brass railings, are also recommended for protection and not to be altered.—
Everton Bailey Jr,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As electric vehicle makers struggle to remain relevant, a new competitor is about to hit California’s roads.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Three people were killed in as many crashes on Arkansas roads from Monday to Wednesday, according to preliminary police reports.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And his ultimate war is with Bob, a tech CEO who rants about his haters and has gotten rich off rebranded snake oil and whose obvious corruption has been obscured by his self-mythologizing.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
29 Aug. 2025
-
One grumbles when the driver rants about development’s ravages.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Obviously, there’s the physicality of having someone who lived during that time and who would be out there in the woods, chopping down trees, building railroads.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
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The development of many towns, including Tinley Park and Lockport, has been shaped by rivers and railroads.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Daily train service will also resume at the border town of Dandong in China to Pyongyang, China's railways authority announced.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Over the years, the cemetery has been impacted multiple times due to construction of roadways and railways, including the highway construction in the 1980s and 1990s.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rails. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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