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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Recent Examples of derail
This opposition threatens to derail the tax legislation, which Trump was hoping to see passed before the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
5 Hours Ago
S&P 500 snaps 6-day win streak
The S&P 500 snapped a six-day winning streak on Tuesday.
—
Lisa Kailai Han,jesse Pound, CNBC, 19 May 2025
What to know about Venezuelan gang targeted by Donald Trump
The issue has ascended to the U.S. Supreme Court, as opponents of the policy attempt to derail the president's use of the law, calling it unconstitutional.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Eventually, the rest of the cars derail, killing the last person onboard.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 18 May 2025
However, the issues that derailed the fair in 2022, 2023 and 2024 remain problematic, primarily relating to clean-up, insurance and the use of county resources.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Lisa Kailai Han,jesse Pound, CNBC, 19 May 2025
What to know about Venezuelan gang targeted by Donald Trump
The issue has ascended to the U.S. Supreme Court, as opponents of the policy attempt to derail the president's use of the law, calling it unconstitutional.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 18 May 2025
Eventually, the rest of the cars derail, killing the last person onboard.
—Keith Langston, People.com, 18 May 2025
However, the issues that derailed the fair in 2022, 2023 and 2024 remain problematic, primarily relating to clean-up, insurance and the use of county resources.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
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Growth must reinforce strategy, not distract from it.—
Ayo Adepoju,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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But when the pair get to a higher point in order to try to see where the Wolves are/where Tommy might be, Ellie is distracted by a nearby aquarium, which has a giant ferris wheel nearby.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
25 May 2025
Verb
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However, some 3,000 years ago—around the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age—newcomers to the area disturbed the burial site by removing parts of the mound and displacing stones.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 May 2025
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Beaches aren’t typically hotspots for these kinds of fossils unless something is disturbing the seafloor nearby and carrying the remains to shore.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
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After years of ‘losing culture,’ can the new-look Chicago Bears turn things around on defense? Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard didn’t bother mincing words.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
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The walk, only his second this month, bothered him.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
26 May 2025
Verb
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These trends are causing 67% of the workforce to worry about the economy’s impact on their current jobs, according to the Workforce Pulse Survey from Remote.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
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From the moment President Donald Trump took office, Flo has worried and contemplated her next steps.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2025
Verb
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Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, in an email, said that he was alarmed by the decision to cut the funding, adding that many Missourians in need of behavioral health care come to Kansas City.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2025
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The warning follows a concerning rise in measles cases nationally, with a significant outbreak in Texas that has alarmed public health officials.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Overnight, officials were primarily concerned with high levels of volcanic gas such as water vapor, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide that can have far-reaching effects downwind.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
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Regulators and watchdogs have also long been concerned about donations from individuals with ties to foreign interests.—
Brian Slodysko,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
Verb
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Since taking the helm in 2018, Powell has steered the Fed through a litany of challenges, such as an economic crisis sowed by the Covid-19 pandemic, a historic bout of high inflation, and now, an erratic global trade war that has unsettled decision-makers across the world.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
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But also recognize that sometimes our most significant relationship growth comes through moments that initially unsettle us.—
Anna Pulley,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Some Israeli officials have agitated for Israel to rebuild Jewish settlements in the enclave, but Mr. Netanyahu has rebuffed the prospect for now.—
Samuel Granados,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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Moderate and battleground-district Republicans are pushing back on threats to Medicaid, while conservatives and budget hawks are agitating for deeper cuts.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
5 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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