as in distracted
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 derailed
Back in Chicago, a Yellow Line train derailed on the city’s Far North Side during the evening rush hour Thursday, leading the Chicago Transit Authority to temporarily suspend service on a number of lines.
—
Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The former five-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon High still is growing into his career, especially after surgery for a congenital heart defect derailed his brief college experience at USC.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Bromfield had nearly finished converting the 25,000-square-foot brick building to apartments when the pandemic derailed his work.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
During the evening rush on Thursday, a Yellow Line train derailed in the rail yard near the Howard terminal in the Rogers Park neighborhood, prompting the CTA and firefighters to evacuate approximately 80 passengers from the train.
—Tara Molina, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
That early blunder may have derailed previous Quakes teams.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Divisions within Iran’s leadership appear to have derailed them, sources said.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The Panthers plucked nearly a dozen players from the Checkers over the course of the season to play at the NHL level as injuries derailed Florida’s roster.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Fun plans with friends could get derailed by questions of budget, and this isn’t something to sweep under the rug.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2026
Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The former five-star recruit out of Sierra Canyon High still is growing into his career, especially after surgery for a congenital heart defect derailed his brief college experience at USC.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Bromfield had nearly finished converting the 25,000-square-foot brick building to apartments when the pandemic derailed his work.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
During the evening rush on Thursday, a Yellow Line train derailed in the rail yard near the Howard terminal in the Rogers Park neighborhood, prompting the CTA and firefighters to evacuate approximately 80 passengers from the train.
—Tara Molina, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
That early blunder may have derailed previous Quakes teams.
—Harold Gutmann, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026
Divisions within Iran’s leadership appear to have derailed them, sources said.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
The Panthers plucked nearly a dozen players from the Checkers over the course of the season to play at the NHL level as injuries derailed Florida’s roster.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Fun plans with friends could get derailed by questions of budget, and this isn’t something to sweep under the rug.
—Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for derailed
Verb
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Portland couldn’t figure out how to pass off help assignments to deal with the downhill speed of San Antonio’s guards and wings, with the Blazers’ centers distracted on the perimeter.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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The report also indicated the driver of the black truck was not suspected of being on drugs or alcohol and was not distracted when the crash happened.—
Steve Maugeri,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Blueberry plants also have a shallow root system that can be disturbed by planting annuals and is subject to competition from surrounding plants for water and nutrients.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The radiation from the flares reached Earth quickly and disturbed the ionosphere, the upper atmospheric layer that carries many radio and navigation signals.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Like so many in her field, The Ohio State University oncologist Ning Jin is alarmed by the number of patients in their 30s and 40s with late-stage cancer in their lower digestive tract.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The casual acknowledgement of brushing off offers of bribes alarmed some Republican activists, who will endorse a candidate for governor at their state convention on May 16.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Who never bothered to delete the erroneous post.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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With Minnesota viewing them as soft, the Nuggets hardly seem bothered by the criticism.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That’s the case where the 49ers are concerned and their spotty record under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch in identifying premium talent in the first two rounds.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
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Meanwhile, Wintour and Bryan were — as far as the public was concerned — together from 1998 until late 2020, well after her kids were married.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The good thing for Ohio State is that the coaching staff isn’t worried about injuries to Joshua Padilla, Austin Siereveld and Phillip Daniels lingering into preseason camp.—
Cameron Teague Robinson,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
But investors worried about Clorox cutting its full-year profit outlook as consumers become more selective with their spending amid higher gas prices.—
Davis Giangiulio,Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The verdict on the lesser charge angered Diller’s colleagues in the NYPD.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Trump faces record-low approval ratings, while Washington’s war on Iran, which has sent US gasoline prices spiking, has further angered voters.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Corruption cases reminiscent of the scandals that plagued the political elite that Milei vowed to overthrow have added to his challenges, with his close ally and chief of staff, Manuel Adorni, now under investigation for the misuse of public funds.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Despite the child molestation claims that plagued Jackson for decades, his fans have demonstrated a number of times that the answer is yes.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Derailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/derailed. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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