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
Examples of derail in a Sentence
The train derailed in heavy snow.
The train was derailed by heavy snow.
Recent Examples on the Web
Research has shown that prolonged exposure to high-stress environments can lead to burnout, anxiety and depression, potentially derailing even the most capable leaders.
—Ginni Saraswati, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Drinking Sugary Coffee Beverages Coffee loaded with cream, syrup, and toppings like brown butter or sprinkles can quickly derail your weight loss goals.
—Johna Burdeos, Health, 26 Feb. 2025
Four of the hostages handed over last week were also deceased, with what Hamas said was a mix-up in the identity of one abductee at one point threatening to derail the ceasefire.
—Tovah Lazaroff, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2025
If this is a career risk, ultimately—and maybe this is a privileged position—but if this somehow derails my career, then maybe this isn’t where I was meant to be.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
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Ginni Saraswati, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
Drinking Sugary Coffee Beverages Coffee loaded with cream, syrup, and toppings like brown butter or sprinkles can quickly derail your weight loss goals.
—Johna Burdeos, Health, 26 Feb. 2025
Four of the hostages handed over last week were also deceased, with what Hamas said was a mix-up in the identity of one abductee at one point threatening to derail the ceasefire.
—Tovah Lazaroff, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2025
If this is a career risk, ultimately—and maybe this is a privileged position—but if this somehow derails my career, then maybe this isn’t where I was meant to be.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for derail
Cite this Entry
“Derail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/derail. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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