derailed; derailing; derails
1
: to cause to run off the rails
2
a
: to obstruct the progress of : frustrate
security problems derailed the tour
b
: to upset the stability or composure of
divorce … can seriously derail an employee—
Joanne Gordon
Joanne Gordon
: to leave the rails
Examples of derail in a Sentence
The train derailed in heavy snow.
The train was derailed by heavy snow.
Recent Examples on the Web
While staying in a secure position during economic uncertainty makes sense, remaining paralyzed by fear can derail long-term career growth and personal fulfillment.
—Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
At the time, many simulations would derail after running for a few weeks, as rounding errors at the grid points artificially amplified atmospheric waves.
—Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Preseason predictions have been derailed in spectacular fashion and record time.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
After a now-infamous weather delay derailed a powerhouse clash at CPKC Stadium earlier this year, Saturday night’s matchup between the Kansas City Current and Washington Spirit provided a second bite at the apple.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
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Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
At the time, many simulations would derail after running for a few weeks, as rounding errors at the grid points artificially amplified atmospheric waves.
—Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Preseason predictions have been derailed in spectacular fashion and record time.
—David Ubben, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
After a now-infamous weather delay derailed a powerhouse clash at CPKC Stadium earlier this year, Saturday night’s matchup between the Kansas City Current and Washington Spirit provided a second bite at the apple.
—Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derail. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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