derail

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "derail" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to the act of diverting something from its intended course, either literally or figuratively. For example: "The employee's scandal derailed her career prospects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ashley is known to have long held an interest in buying House of Fraser, although any attempt to derail Sanpower's move looks to have failed, with the transaction expected to be completed this week.

The Guardian - Business

Earlier this week, the president's wife, Patience, publicly suggested the attacks were a fabrication intended to derail her husband's campaign.

The Guardian

Two years after rising to national prominence with a 13-hour talking filibuster against drones, Rand Paul has made another marathon speech on the floor of the US Senate – only this time in a bid to halt the federal government's mass surveillance of Americans' phone records and to derail an extension of the Patriot Act.

The Guardian

Not that anything short of 40-plus Lib Dems voting with Labour would derail the policy.

The Guardian - Opinion

His appointment threatens to derail efforts by UN envoy Bernardino Leon to relaunch a political dialogue in Libya, which has rival governments and parliaments and is flush with armed militias.

The Guardian

Fears are mounting that rising tensions between the west and Russia, fuelled by the alleged presence of Russian troops in Ukraine, will derail the weak recovery.

The Guardian - Business

Anwar, 60, who led a resurgent opposition to unprecedented success in March's general election, says the charges are "malicious" and fabricated to derail his political comeback.

The Guardian

This war of words also reveals the simmering potential of armed groups to derail democracy in Africa's most populous nation.

The Guardian

The determined Koch brothers have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to derail the president's healthcare law.

The Guardian - Opinion

He believes a yes vote on 18 September could derail the UK's economic recovery.

The Guardian

The killing of the men, described by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) as "Hamas terrorists", briefly threatened to derail talks in Cairo aimed at reaching a long-term ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas following the end of the Gaza war.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "derail" to describe actions that cause a significant deviation from an intended course, whether literally (like a train) or figuratively (like a plan or discussion).

Common error

Don't use "derail" to describe slight delays or inconveniences. "Derail" implies a more substantial disruption or failure, not just a minor hiccup.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "derail" is as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. It describes the action of causing something to deviate from its intended course, either literally or figuratively, as affirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "derail" is a versatile verb that signifies causing something to deviate from its intended course, whether literally or figuratively. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Primarily found in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts, "derail" implies a significant disruption, not just a minor inconvenience. When using "derail", remember that it implies a considerable disruption. Related phrases like "thwart", "disrupt", and "sabotage" offer nuanced alternatives depending on the specific context. By understanding these nuances, you can use "derail" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thwart

Emphasizes actively preventing something from happening or succeeding.

disrupt

Focuses on interrupting the normal course or process of something.

sabotage

Highlights intentional damage or obstruction to undermine something.

undermine

Suggests weakening or eroding the foundation or effectiveness of something.

obstruct

Focuses on creating obstacles or impediments to progress.

impede

Implies slowing down or hindering progress.

stymie

Indicates a complete block or frustration of an effort or plan.

frustrate

Highlights the feeling of being prevented from achieving a goal.

hinder

Suggests delaying or making something more difficult.

torpedo

Emphasizes a sudden and forceful action that causes failure.

FAQs

How to use "derail" in a sentence?

The verb "derail" can describe something literally leaving the tracks, or figuratively mean to obstruct or divert something from its intended course. For example, "The scandal threatened to "derail" the negotiations".

What can I say instead of "derail"?

You can use alternatives like "thwart", "disrupt", or "sabotage" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "derail" or "de-rail"?

"Derail" is the correct spelling. "De-rail" is sometimes used, but it is not standard and may be seen as incorrect.

What's the difference between "derail" and "divert"?

"Divert" simply means to change the direction or course of something, while "derail" implies a more forceful and often negative interruption or failure.