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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of derail
State of play: The 49ers started the year hoping to return to the Super Bowl, but the injury bug showed up early and often, derailing any chance of a deep postseason run.
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Ross Terrell, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
The 2024 season was derailed by injuries and missed opportunities.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
Next Season Rose's run to basketball immortality was eventually derailed by an ACL tear in 2011-12 and a meniscus tear in 2013-14.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
This discovery, however, doesn't mean astronomers will hastily draw conclusions or that the search for life on exoplanets will be derailed by false positive biosignatures.
—Victoria Corless, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for derail 
Ross Terrell, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025
The 2024 season was derailed by injuries and missed opportunities.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
Next Season Rose's run to basketball immortality was eventually derailed by an ACL tear in 2011-12 and a meniscus tear in 2013-14.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 5 Jan. 2025
This discovery, however, doesn't mean astronomers will hastily draw conclusions or that the search for life on exoplanets will be derailed by false positive biosignatures.
—Victoria Corless, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for derail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail
Verb
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After all, we too are drawn to violent, meaningless spectacle to distract us from matters of substance.Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
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Police warned those in attendance to keep their hands down so as not to distract from the formal proceedings.Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The volcano’s light illuminates a double lenticular cloud, or a UFO-like cloud formation created when a mountain disturbs air flow and creates standing waves above it.Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
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The restaurant’s owner requested that the police detain the tourist for intoxication and disturbing the public order; on Sunday, Cabo Rojo’s mayor said that the responding officer had been suspended while the case was being investigated.Graciela Mochkofsky, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The latter group ultimately just couldn’t be bothered to get off their couches.Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 15 Jan. 2025
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Vlasic is not bothered by this but does have a suggestion for the NHL.Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Others are downbeat and worry that utter obliteration could be afoot.Lance Eliot, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
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Offer Comfort After experiencing a disaster, whether firsthand or through media images, kids tend to worry about their family's safety or fear that the event will happen again.Tamekia Reece, Parents, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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California officials apologized after millions of residents in Los Angeles County were alarmed by a false alert to evacuate as wildfires rage.Emily Hallas, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 10 Jan. 2025
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The two had never once met, and Pope was alarmed, but tried to stay calm.Ian Frisch, Curbed, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The traffic alert was issued Wednesday at 12:13 p.m., and the last update concerning this incident was provided on Wednesday at 12:52 p.m.Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025
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Part of the reason wildfire smoke from the Los Angeles-area fires is particularly concerning is because — in addition to PM2.5 — the smoke from this disaster can include harmful components that were part of houses, items inside the home, buildings and cars that burned.Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This unsettling trend extends beyond Boston, and the elite halls of Harvard.Chris Westfall, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
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Nevertheless, as alarmingly berserk entrapment scenarios go, Jeffrey’s feature is vivid in terms of both unsettling atmosphere and visceral action.Dennis Harvey, Variety, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Then agitate the rug for a few minutes to remove any leftover debris.Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2025
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Using your fingers, lightly agitate the seeds to loosen them from the membrane.Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near derail
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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