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
Synonyms of derail
Examples of derail in a Sentence
The train derailed in heavy snow.
The train was derailed by heavy snow.
Recent Examples on the Web
Two years later, a train derailed, and the air, water, and clay of East Palestine were poisoned.
—Mary Norris, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
His second year was derailed by injury.
—David Troy, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Those plans were derailed after the war triggered a spike in jet fuel prices, upending Spirit's cost projections and complicating its exit from bankruptcy.
—David Shepardson, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Given all the things that can derail those winning combinations, that’s a lot of risk.
—Neil Greenberg, New York Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for derail
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Mary Norris, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
His second year was derailed by injury.
—David Troy, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Those plans were derailed after the war triggered a spike in jet fuel prices, upending Spirit's cost projections and complicating its exit from bankruptcy.
—David Shepardson, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Given all the things that can derail those winning combinations, that’s a lot of risk.
—Neil Greenberg, New York Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for derail
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derail. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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