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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of derail
Even in cheap cities, there can be savings roadblocks
Big expenses can derail your down payment savings timeline, even in a city where homes are less expensive.
—
Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 19 Jan. 2025
Haunted Mansion at 50: Decades of delays and distractions nearly derailed Disneyland’s venerable dark ride
The old Black Widow Bride, known as Constance Hatchway, showed up in wedding portraits with a series of husbands who lost their heads in the Haunted Mansion attic scene.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 18 Jan. 2025
This is the recipe that is derailing Arsenal’s season.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
Too many derailed first dates, nobody would give me a second chance.
—Tara Dorabji, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for derail 
Ana Teresa Solá, CNBC, 19 Jan. 2025
Haunted Mansion at 50: Decades of delays and distractions nearly derailed Disneyland’s venerable dark ride
The old Black Widow Bride, known as Constance Hatchway, showed up in wedding portraits with a series of husbands who lost their heads in the Haunted Mansion attic scene.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 18 Jan. 2025
This is the recipe that is derailing Arsenal’s season.
—Jordan Campbell, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
Too many derailed first dates, nobody would give me a second chance.
—Tara Dorabji, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
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Don’t bring up sensitive topics when stressed, distracted, in a rush…or bed.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2025
-
The scene grows more and more chaotic: Simons is easily distracted by pieces of the set and cannot seem to follow his director’s cues.—
Luke Chinman,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Do not use strong perfumes or colognes, which can disturb the experience for others.—
Cory Martin,
Verywell Health,
23 Jan. 2025
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The show is a display of staged orderly chaos, models walking across a hilly, grassy arena, crossing in and out around the little knolls, never disturbing or interrupting each other’s paths.—
Aamina Inayat Khan,
StyleCaster,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Theresa’s nose has been bothering her and one of her children has asthma.—
Simmone Shah,
TIME,
26 Jan. 2025
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Ludvig Aberg, who shared the second-round lead with Griffin, was bothered by illness throughout the round.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Another worried the fire had crept out of the Palisades toward Santa Monica Canyon, endangering his house.—
Shawn Hubler,
New York Times,
20 Jan. 2025
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As writers stopped worrying about viewers losing the thread, their shows started resembling ultra-long films.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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An Israeli security official who was alarmed by the decision told Axios Katz made it for domestic political considerations and without consultation with Israel's security agencies.—
Barak Ravid,
Axios,
24 Jan. 2025
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Immigration advocates were particularly alarmed by the focus on those already in the country who received the status due to unstable conditions in their home country.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Right, but Congress passed and the Biden administration signed an order declassifying the information concerning the lab leak theory and the issues with respect to COVID origins.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Jan. 2025
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Recent happenings across the globe—from Australia to Canada—have reported concerning incidents including swastika vandalism being spray-painted on a synagogue.—
Irwin Cotler,
TIME,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The trip comes as the president has left the question of additional disaster aid for California unsettled.—
Zolan Kanno-Youngs,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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Still, the increasing rhetoric has some government workers nationwide unsettled.—
Terry Collins,
USA TODAY,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But his margin over more agitating players like Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals, Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins, Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers and Nazem Kadri of the Calgary Flames is relatively small.—
Carol Schram,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Trump’s statements agitate U.S. allies In Washington, there’s a strong bipartisan consensus that the U.S. must prevail in its economic and tech rivalry with China to maintain its global leadership.—
Ken Moritsugu,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near derail
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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