as in bothering
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 derailing
Tough lessons for the Mavericks to learn while completely derailing their franchise’s trajectory.
—
Zach Harper, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
As a practical matter, the owner being targeted to pay higher monthly assessments will likely oppose paying more, thus derailing the initiative to revise its unit percentage.
—Howard Dakoff, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Nearly 60% of workers in Kickresume’s survey said difficult coworkers significantly undermine their productivity, whether that’s by derailing their focus, wasting time, or forcing them to overthink every interaction.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
That means what seems like a harmless purchase today could be viewed as a fraudulent transaction tomorrow, and could even end up derailing your filing or landing you in legal trouble.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Cal Coast then filed a lawsuit accusing SDCCU of intentionally derailing the merger without a valid cause.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Putin told Trump of his decision in a call Monday, according to the Kremlin, even as Kyiv cast the Russian allegations as a fabrication aimed at derailing the peace process.
—Kate Sullivan, Bloomberg, 29 Dec. 2025
The truth is, most trip-derailing problems are entirely preventable with a bit of forethought and the right guidance.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
The Democrats’ maneuver risks derailing an effort that to date had been largely bipartisan.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2025
Zach Harper, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
As a practical matter, the owner being targeted to pay higher monthly assessments will likely oppose paying more, thus derailing the initiative to revise its unit percentage.
—Howard Dakoff, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Nearly 60% of workers in Kickresume’s survey said difficult coworkers significantly undermine their productivity, whether that’s by derailing their focus, wasting time, or forcing them to overthink every interaction.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 1 Feb. 2026
That means what seems like a harmless purchase today could be viewed as a fraudulent transaction tomorrow, and could even end up derailing your filing or landing you in legal trouble.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Cal Coast then filed a lawsuit accusing SDCCU of intentionally derailing the merger without a valid cause.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Putin told Trump of his decision in a call Monday, according to the Kremlin, even as Kyiv cast the Russian allegations as a fabrication aimed at derailing the peace process.
—Kate Sullivan, Bloomberg, 29 Dec. 2025
The truth is, most trip-derailing problems are entirely preventable with a bit of forethought and the right guidance.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
The Democrats’ maneuver risks derailing an effort that to date had been largely bipartisan.
—Justin Papp, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailing
Verb
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One Florida resident reportedly hired a local mover without bothering to determine if the company was licensed, only to run into a boatload of trouble.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
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If your knee is bothering you, for instance, the vibration might distract your brain enough for the pain to temporarily retreat.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To match the child actor who plays young Neil, Levitt wears blue contacts over his naturally brown eyes, which aren’t nearly as distracting in this pass.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2026
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Next, a Route 66 sign appears briefly along the periphery, surrounded by additional distracting road signs.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The documents, which are unclassified FBI and Department of Homeland Security intelligence reports, provide disturbing new insights into the growing problem – and also illustrate law enforcement’s struggle to crack down on the decentralized movement.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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Recently, high school students have been exposed to protests concerning women’s health care, medical costs, DOGE slashing government departments and the ruthless actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
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The files are not findings of guilt, and some critics have raised concerns about releasing confidential and uncorroborated material concerning those who have not been charged with a crime.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Recently, something new appeared on the landscape, alarming wildlife advocates like Christina Aiello.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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After her husband took her pets out of the room, Bloor then faced the even more delicate task of safely removing herself from the bed without alarming the snake.—
Phil Boucher,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But then over here, rumblings about the future of the company and people worrying what does this mean not only for themselves but for the prospects of Rolling Stone, which is a life mantra and mission that people came from all over the world to be a part of.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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Boaters who call North Point Marina their homeport during the boating season can stop worrying over where to moor their vessels.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But when the new terminal opened, the historic plane did not make the move, angering aviation enthusiasts.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
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What’s more, all that accomplishes is annoying and angering the driver who is being tailgated.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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This is why experts recommend vacuuming in different directions and thoroughly agitating the carpet piles.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailing. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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