as in to distract
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 derail
In June, Israel’s surprise attack on Iran’s military and nuclear facilities derailed a series of ongoing – though foundering – talks between the US and Iran.
—
Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Two people were convicted in a signature fraud case that derailed the campaigns of multiple Republican gubernatorial candidates and several judicial candidates during the 2022 Michigan August primary election.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Green Bay’s chances in the NFC North were derailed by an injury to Micah Parsons, but with Parsons leading the defense and Jordan Love leading the offense, Green Bay is a logical contender.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Or, on the flip side, derail an entire trip due to blisters, fatigue, and sometimes even injury.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for derail
Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Two people were convicted in a signature fraud case that derailed the campaigns of multiple Republican gubernatorial candidates and several judicial candidates during the 2022 Michigan August primary election.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
Green Bay’s chances in the NFC North were derailed by an injury to Micah Parsons, but with Parsons leading the defense and Jordan Love leading the offense, Green Bay is a logical contender.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Or, on the flip side, derail an entire trip due to blisters, fatigue, and sometimes even injury.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
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They were seen by the clergy, for example, to be distracted by chocolate, drinking it and gossiping instead of paying attention to mass.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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State transportation officials argued that street art is distracting and can pose a risk to drivers.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With their special technology, the cameras can take high-quality videos of animals at night without disturbing them.—
Charles Seabrook,
AJC.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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That the president remains fixated on this conspiracy theory, rather than tending to his job as the leader of the most powerful institution on the planet, should disturb anyone who wants America to remain a free and prosperous nation.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Andrew Musgrave crossed the finish line in cross-country skiing today in a tank top, and the cold didn’t seem to bother him one bit.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
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My damp clothes didn’t bother either one of us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Pentagon worries that an expanding Chinese arsenal could be a prelude to invading Taiwan or an attempt to beat America's missile defenses, Panda said.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
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Other recent departures underscore the tension between some researchers worried about safety and top executives eager to generate revenue.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But that's not really what alarms me, someone making money off of military advancements.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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Officials across the country received the invitation, which has alarmed some of its recipients, according to numerous media outlets.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But some consumers and lawmakers are concerned the technology allows stores to suddenly hike prices on certain items during high-demand windows.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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When Reeves’ political future was in doubt last summer, gilt yields spiked as much as 22 basis points in a single day, with market watchers saying at the time that investors were concerned her departure would lead to the government spending and borrowing more.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While a complete withdrawal from the GNU may be unlikely, the resurgence of internal debate alone risks unsettling a government whose stability rests, in part, on the DA’s role as a moderating force.—
Sam Mkokeli,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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Homebuyers tend to be more sensitive than the law, which is still largely unsettled in regards to the topic.—
Franklin Schneider,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Use your hands to agitate the soapy water through the garment.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
6 Feb. 2026
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The dollar rallied, even though Warsh has been agitating for more rate cuts, which tend to undermine the dollar’s value.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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