DERAIL Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

derail

verb

di-ˈrāl

Definition of derail

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of derail Madrigal will play Dan, James’ divorced best friend whose plans for single life are derailed by James and Jeanie’s impulsive wedding. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026 Next year’s Superman follow-up Man of Tomorrow hopes to avoid whatever lingering DC baggage and other factors derailed Supergirl. — Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 The progressive left is working hard to derail America’s AI dominance by blocking data center construction. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Doing so would further derail trade talks with one of America’s staunchest allies, which denies treating Coupang differently than Korean companies. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for derail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for derail

Verb

Nothing will keep you from sleeping or distract you from studying like itchy bug bites or the constant sneezing and drippy nose of seasonal allergies.

— Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
The long seven-month offseason has been filled with congressional legislation, eligibility lawsuits, CFP expansion and plenty of other storylines that have distracted from the product on the field.

— Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

The lack of federal guidance, conflicting messages and potential barriers to immunizations worry public health officials because vaccination rates are already falling, leading to resurgences of dangerous diseases like measles.

— Rob Stein, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Their narrators worry about the corruption of their music scenes by news presenters, magazine writers, major-label scouts, and (for Goetz especially) academics.

— Robert Rubsam, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of worry

Verb

Such military cooperation has alarmed Israel, which is increasingly distrustful of Turkey’s intentions in the region.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
California Forever has increasingly pitched the Solano Shipyard as part of a broader effort to rebuild the US maritime industry, a priority among both Democrats and Republicans alarmed over its decline.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of alarm

Verb

Through an open records request, the Star-Telegram obtained copies of text messages and emails concerning discussions between the two cities about the data center development.

— Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026
Akiyama wrote numerous books concerning both his spaceflight and his experiences as a farmer and being displaced from the Fukushima Prefecture.

— Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of concern

Verb

Lin said recent restrictions affecting mainland investors’ access to offshore brokerages in Hong Kong had particularly unsettled some clients.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Whether new degrees in AI or digital humanities pay off, or result in concrete careers, is unsettled.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of unsettle

Verb

After many decades of organizing, speaking, writing, agitating — and weathering the constant controversy that courted — Steinem kept going.

— Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Continue to cook, agitating eggs and occasionally shaking pan and running spatula underneath to ensure eggs aren’t sticking, until surface of eggs looks somewhat set but still slightly shiny, about 30 seconds more.

— Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of agitate

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derail

derailed

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“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derail. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of derail

verb

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