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derail

1 synonyms and 0 antonyms for derail, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To come off, or cause something to come off, its railway tracks.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

How to use derail

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

derail talks derail a plan derail the conversation

Etymology

From French derailler, "to go off the rails," from de- + rail.

Full origin of derail →

Frequently asked questions

What does “derail” mean?

The word “derail” means to come off, or cause something to come off, its railway tracks. In plain terms, literally, to leave the tracks; figuratively, to knock a plan or discussion off course.

How do you pronounce “derail”?

“Derail” is pronounced duh-RAY-uhl (/ˌdəˈɹeɪ.əl/ in IPA).

How do you use “derail” in a sentence?

Here is “derail” used in a sentence: “The freight train derailed just outside the station.”

What is another word for “derail”?

Words with a similar meaning to “derail” include unrail.

What part of speech is “derail”?

“Derail” is a verb.

Where does the word “derail” come from?

The word “derail” comes from French. From French derailler, "to go off the rails," from de- + rail.

How many meanings does “derail” have?

“Derail” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to come off, or cause something to come off, its railway tracks.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.