as in distracted
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 derailed
The multiple mistresses ruined his image; the countless injuries derailed his golf game.
—
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Justice derailed What followed was a travesty.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The plan was to turn it into a thriving space and science center, but those plans were soon derailed.
—New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2026
Their perfectly imperfect romance narrative has been derailed by a more dangerous form of storytelling, the kind that can strand even the closest relationship in uncharted territory.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
The takeoff was almost derailed in the last minute when an issue popped up with a key flight termination system.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Haupiua Steventon, a member of McLeod’s family who had her stomach removed at 18, got a job at a bar after the long recovery derailed her university studies.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Indianapolis began 8-2 before a litany of injuries, most notably quarterback Daniel Jones’ ruptured right Achilles tendon, derailed its promising campaign.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
However, a series of injuries, poor coaching, and the career revival of Daniel Jones derailed any momentum Richardson had gained.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Justice derailed What followed was a travesty.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
The plan was to turn it into a thriving space and science center, but those plans were soon derailed.
—New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2026
Their perfectly imperfect romance narrative has been derailed by a more dangerous form of storytelling, the kind that can strand even the closest relationship in uncharted territory.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
The takeoff was almost derailed in the last minute when an issue popped up with a key flight termination system.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Haupiua Steventon, a member of McLeod’s family who had her stomach removed at 18, got a job at a bar after the long recovery derailed her university studies.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 31 Mar. 2026
Indianapolis began 8-2 before a litany of injuries, most notably quarterback Daniel Jones’ ruptured right Achilles tendon, derailed its promising campaign.
—James Boyd, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
However, a series of injuries, poor coaching, and the career revival of Daniel Jones derailed any momentum Richardson had gained.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailed
Verb
-
Woods was far more comfortable with telling officers he was distracted versus possibly impaired.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Black, naturally, also sings a verse about forgetting the wise words of a man in the Tibetan mountains because he was distracted by a terse text from his wife.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dogs should not be disturbed while resting, as undisturbed sleep is important for their wellbeing.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In the show's latest season, multiple cast members wonder if the pair are getting back together, with Wilson being notably disturbed when approached by costar Jesse Solomon about possibly kissing Miller if given the chance.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The conflict has alarmed the international community, particularly as the area is one where other militant organizations, including al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, still have a presence and have been trying to resurface.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Unsurpringly, this has alarmed some in the Pentagon who are now scrambling to find ways to increase production or find ways to replenish stock.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Despite being bothered by his elbow throughout the 2025 campaign, Rodón enjoyed his best season with the Yankees last year.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Other birds won’t be bothered, but the crows will stay away for a long time.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps the most reassuring detail for fans concerned about canon fidelity is how much Martin has endorsed this production.—
Ryan Brennan
April 3,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The products are no longer available for purchase, but the FSIS is concerned that the nuggets may still be stored in some consumers’ freezers.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sheehy encouraged anyone worried about pacemakers to consider using the devices.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Armstrong worried that something simmered between Moriah and her longtime boyfriend Colin Strickland, whom Armstrong lived with.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The first major nationwide protests against the Islamic regime began in June 2009, with demonstrators angered by the fraudulent presidential election.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
-
He was angered by the deaths and the damage to infrastructure and military capacities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But as these researchers are the first to admit, the difficulty of defining intelligence is as old as the study of thinking itself—and has plagued artificial intelligence as a field from its very earliest days.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The broader transportation program was also plagued with allegations of fraud in 2023 -- shortly after HCPF, relying on an apparently faulty analysis, recommended a significant increase in reimbursement rates in that service.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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