1
as in to flutter
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
started to flail his arms wildly when he spied a bat in the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to whip
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
gruesome evidence that the prisoner had been flailed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flail
Sebastian Shukla, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
As readers spent more time online, magazines reliant on print ads were flailing.
—Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
With his quirky lisp, wacky energy, and tinny vocal quiver, Carrey's cable guy Chip flails around against the backdrop of a psychedelic karaoke screen, hip-thrusting and shimmying his way across a house party as the elderly crowd gets their groove on.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
As such, physics puzzler Heavenly Bodies is often a game of flailing noodle limbs and intrepid spacemen drifting out into the inky abyss.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Verb
Two key themes have dominated campaigning: curbing mass migration and righting the country’s flailing economy.
—Sebastian Shukla, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
As readers spent more time online, magazines reliant on print ads were flailing.
—Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
With his quirky lisp, wacky energy, and tinny vocal quiver, Carrey's cable guy Chip flails around against the backdrop of a psychedelic karaoke screen, hip-thrusting and shimmying his way across a house party as the elderly crowd gets their groove on.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
As such, physics puzzler Heavenly Bodies is often a game of flailing noodle limbs and intrepid spacemen drifting out into the inky abyss.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flail
Verb
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The Chinese and Hong Kong flags flutter as screens display the Hang Seng Index outside the Exchange Square complex, which houses the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on January 21, 2021 in Hong Kong, China.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2025
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Romantic connections will sweeten up by April 30 regardless, as your amorous ruler Venus finally flutters back into your relationship sector, softening your heart to the healing magic of love.—
Nina Kahn,
StyleCaster,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Take it from us and whip out this gem for special occasions versus everyday wear, as Gucci recommends shielding it from direct light, heat, and rain.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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In the early hours of April 21, 1775, gale-force winds whipped across the town square, driving the shivering sentries from their posts to the shelter of their beds.—
Andrew Lawler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Peace in Ukraine and the Middle East is proving to be far harder to achieve than the real estate deals envisaged by the president, while the bludgeon of tariffs is raising ever more opposition among erstwhile allies.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
25 Mar. 2025
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Mishra then abruptly juxtaposes a scene from Gaza, flush with heavy-handed language that bludgeons home his comparison.—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Think chaos theory: a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, and a tornado hits Texas.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Neighbors initially complained about the gunshot-style sound of the flag flapping in the wind and keeping them awake at night.—
David Staats,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Ellie hides her injury from Dina when her friend arrives to rescue her, and the women are summoned to appear before the town leaders to share their experience.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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Read Next World Palace gardens hid 900-year-old ruins of bathhouse in Spain — until now.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Asked about the Trump regime’s use of funding as a cudgel Friday, Hochul brushed it off.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
21 Mar. 2025
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Impeachment must be reserved for cases involving serious misconduct or corruption, not trotted out as a cudgel to threaten federal jurists for doing their jobs.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The vacuum, which is typically priced at $450, has been slashed to just $300 at Amazon.—
Amy Schulman,
People.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Big studios have slashed budgets, making life for production crews more financially precarious.—
Steven Kurutz,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Cut Stems Back Using your bypass pruners, cut live canes back to 12 inches tall.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2025
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Green, who is Black, regularly uses a cane to walk around the Capitol and has done so for years.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flail. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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