derail

verb

de·​rail di-ˈrāl 

dē-

derailed; derailing; derails

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to leave the rails

derailment

di-ˈrāl-mənt 

dē-

noun

Synonyms

• agitate
• ail
• alarm
• alarum
• bother
• concern
• discomfort
• discompose
• dismay
• disquiet
• distemper
• distract
• distress
• disturb
• exercise
• flurry
• frazzle
• freak (out)
• fuss
• hagride
• perturb
• undo
• unhinge
• unsettle
• upset
• weird out
• worry

Examples of derail in a Sentence

The train derailed in heavy snow.

The train was derailed by heavy snow.

Recent Examples on the Web

Inflation picked up slightly in November, according to data released Wednesday by the Labor Department, but likely not by enough to derail the Federal Reserve’s plans for another rate cut. —Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024

While humor can energize a brand, but any missteps—or outright misinformation—can derail its reputation. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Advertisement Shoulder problems derailed Treinen in 2022 and 2023, and Treinen suffered another setback last March when a Cactus League comebacker drilled him in the right rib cage. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024

That miscalculation led to major delays that derailed the college-going process of many students, according to Gaby Pacheco, the president of TheDream. —Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French dérailler to throw off the track, from dé- de- + rail, from English

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

derail

verb

de·​rail di-ˈrā(ə)l 

: to cause to run off the rails

a train derailed by heavy snow

derailment

-mənt 

noun