derail
Thwart by disruption
To derail is to leave or cause to leave the rails—said of trains and other rail vehicles: The freight train derailed after hitting debris on the tracks.
Figuratively, to derail is to throw off course or disrupt progress: The scandal derailed his campaign.
A derailment can be literal or metaphorical: the derailment of peace talks.
Divert from purpose
- distractDivert someone's attention
- digressStray from the topic
- tangentLine touching curve once
- deflectTurn from course
divert · redirect · veer · wander · ramble · meander · lose focus · off-topic
Deliberate disruption of operations
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- thwartPrevent success of
- obstructBlock or hinder passage
- interfereObstruct or meddle uninvited
block · hinder · impede · scuttle · torpedo · frustrate · spoil · upset
Railway pulling machine
- railsGuiding metal bars
- carriagesWheeled vehicles for passengers
- freightGoods being transported
- conductorOne who directs musicians
track · signal · junction · switch · engine · overturn · collision · wreckage
Forceful contact between objects
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- fatalityDeath from accident
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
disaster · emergency · crash · catastrophe · destruction · injury · trauma · aftermath
Reverse in progress
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- snagUnforeseen complication
- hitchTemporary difficulty or snag
delay · disruption · collapse · failure · breakdown · unravel · abandonment · cancellation
sidetrack
Divert from purpose
deflect · divert · redirect · veer · wander · ramble · meander · lose focus · off-topic · interrupt
sabotage
Deliberate disruption of operations
interfere · block · hinder · impede · scuttle · torpedo · frustrate · spoil · upset · destabilize
locomotive
Railway pulling machine
conductor · track · signal · junction · switch · engine · overturn · collision · wreckage · crash
collision
Forceful contact between objects
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- casualtiesThose killed or wounded
- fatalityDeath from accident
tragedy · disaster · emergency · crash · catastrophe · destruction · injury · trauma · aftermath · rescue
setback
Reverse in progress
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- snagUnforeseen complication
hitch · delay · disruption · collapse · failure · breakdown · unravel · abandonment · cancellation · postponement
breakdown
Failure or decomposition
meltdown · unravel · destabilize · trigger · overwhelm · setback · regression · episode · recovery · sobriety
- rail yardsswitchyard, marshalling yards, receiving yard, yard crew, yardmaster
- mishapsmishap, accident, mistake, blunder, error
- obstructblock, halt, stop, impede, hinder
- distractionsdistraction, digression, tangent, sidetrack, diversion
- disruptdisrupt, disturb, upset, disorder, disorganize
- online forumsforums, forum, message board, message boards, discussion board
derailguide
Leader or instruction book
steer · direct · stay the course · channel · orient
- train derailmentLocomotive leaving its track
derailed, derailment, derails, derailing, derailleur, derailments, derailer