derail

verb

de·​rail di-ˈrāl 

dē-

derailed; derailing; derails

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to leave the rails

derailment

di-ˈrāl-mənt 

dē-

noun

Synonyms

• agitate
• ail
• alarm
• alarum
• bother
• concern
• discomfort
• discompose
• dismay
• disquiet
• distemper
• distract
• distress
• disturb
• exercise
• flurry
• frazzle
• freak (out)
• fuss
• hagride
• perturb
• undo
• unhinge
• unsettle
• upset
• weird out
• worry

Examples of derail in a Sentence

The train derailed in heavy snow.

The train was derailed by heavy snow.

Recent Examples on the Web

Challenges are bound to arise in the month ahead, but don’t let this derail your journey. —Valerie Mesa, Peoplemag, 5 June 2024

Proceedings were derailed earlier this year after one of those co-defendants, GOP operative Michael Roman, claimed Willis and Wade had an improper romantic relationship and alleged Willis financially benefited from it. —Jared Eggleston, CBS News, 3 June 2024

There are concerns those powers could let lawmakers derail President Lai’s agenda, and lead to leaks of sensitive information and punishments for those who refuse to answer questions. —Chien-Hua Wan and Spe Chen / Bloomberg, TIME, 28 May 2024

Snell’s groove was derailed in the third, starting with Kyle Schwarber’s two-run, no-doubt-about-it home run over the right field wall. —Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 27 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

French dérailler to throw off the track, from dé- de- + rail, from English

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

derail

verb

de·​rail di-ˈrā(ə)l 

: to cause to run off the rails

a train derailed by heavy snow

derailment

-mənt 

noun