derailed; derailing; derails
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
Joanne Gordon
: to leave the rails
Synonyms
Examples of derail in a Sentence
The train derailed in heavy snow.
The train was derailed by heavy snow.
Recent Examples on the Web
Christine Dunn, a lawyer representing the victims in the complaints, said that many of their lives had been derailed by the abuse, leaving them with intense anxiety.
—Kate Selig, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
The 49ers suffered devastating injuries to stars Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk and a string of lesser bumps and bruises that derailed the season.
—Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
While the drive to innovate can propel a fledgling tech business forward, certain missteps in the early stages can lead to significant setbacks—or even derail a venture entirely.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Along with a strong 2020 recruiting class, Sam Bassett spearheaded a program turnaround that was first derailed by injuries across the roster in 2023.
—Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2025
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Kate Selig, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
The 49ers suffered devastating injuries to stars Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk and a string of lesser bumps and bruises that derailed the season.
—Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
While the drive to innovate can propel a fledgling tech business forward, certain missteps in the early stages can lead to significant setbacks—or even derail a venture entirely.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Along with a strong 2020 recruiting class, Sam Bassett spearheaded a program turnaround that was first derailed by injuries across the roster in 2023.
—Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for derail
Dictionary Entries Near derail
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derail. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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