derails
Leaves the tracks
Derails means causes to leave the tracks, said of trains: The freight train derailed after hitting debris on the line.
More often figurative—to throw off course or disrupt progress: The scandal derailed his campaign, Don't let distractions derail your focus.
A person who derails a conversation or meeting diverts it from its intended direction, often unproductively.
Diverted from main task
- tangentLine touching curve once
- digressionVeering off topic
- interruptionBreak in continuity
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
diverted · wandered · rambling · offtrack · unfocused · meandering · digressive · hijacked
Deliberate disruption of operations
- thwartPrevent success of
- undermineWeaken by stealth
- obstructBlock or hinder passage
- scuttleSink intentionally; hurried shuffle
torpedo · spoil · ruin · wreck · disrupt · upend · stymie · frustrate
sidetracked
Diverted from main task
- tangentLine touching curve once
- digressionVeering off topic
- interruptionBreak in continuity
distraction · diverted · wandered · rambling · offtrack · unfocused · meandering · digressive · hijacked · segue
sabotage
Deliberate disruption of operations
scuttle · torpedo · spoil · ruin · wreck · disrupt · upend · stymie · frustrate · block
rails
Guiding metal bars
- locomotiveRailway pulling machine
- crashSudden violent impact
- wreckDestroyed vessel or vehicle
collision · track · junction · switch · coupling · buffer · freight · carriage · conductor · signal
chaos
Complete disorder and confusion
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- disorderAbsence of organization
confusion · breakdown · collapse · interference · obstruction · hindrance · sabotage · setback · disaster · catastrophe
- rail yardsswitchyard, marshalling yards, receiving yard, yard crew, yardmaster
- scotchesstops, blocks, halts, foils, thwarts
- railroad switchesturnouts, points, crossovers
derailsguides
Those who show directions
steers · channels · directs · navigates · follows through
- train derailmentLocomotive leaving its track
derail, derailed, derailment, derailing, derailleur, derailments, derailers, derailer, derailleurs