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
The hard-right senators also briefly derailed debate in the Senate on Thursday by attempting to tack on amendments that would cut state funding for diversity initiatives.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 10 May 2024
For the first two years of Joe Biden’s Presidency, the even split in the Senate meant that Manchin could almost single-handedly shape—or derail—the Administration’s agenda.
—Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for derail 
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 10 May 2024
For the first two years of Joe Biden’s Presidency, the even split in the Senate meant that Manchin could almost single-handedly shape—or derail—the Administration’s agenda.
—Dan Kaufman, The New Yorker, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for derail
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'derail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near derail
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derail. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
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