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

And most fatally, a military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, derailed reform entirely, leading to widespread and ongoing internal violence and humanitarian crisis. —Derek Mitchell, NPR, 23 Dec. 2024

The best season in Lions history, derailed by season-ending injuries. —Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 22 Dec. 2024

When it was released in early August, a rift between Lively and Baldoni derailed the film's press tour. —Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024

According to a public notice from local officials, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, a train derailed in Pecos after colliding with a tractor-trailer near Oak Street and Dot Stafford Street. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 20 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