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
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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
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 May 2025
But while liberalism flails, populism offers few actual solutions to Europe's fiscal woes.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
After the Warriors forward was fouled by Timberwolves center Naz Reid during the second quarter, Green flailed his arms and smacked Reid in the face with an elbow.
—Jill Martin, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
While each leg would flail at random on their own, fluid physics dictate a different scenario when the limbs work together.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Verb
Your browser does not support the video tag. Bruised and flailing, the Cavs return home to try to force a Game 6.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 May 2025
But while liberalism flails, populism offers few actual solutions to Europe's fiscal woes.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025
After the Warriors forward was fouled by Timberwolves center Naz Reid during the second quarter, Green flailed his arms and smacked Reid in the face with an elbow.
—Jill Martin, CNN Money, 9 May 2025
While each leg would flail at random on their own, fluid physics dictate a different scenario when the limbs work together.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flail
Verb
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Swallows inhabit some of these bluffs, darting after insects that flutter above the water.—
Alann B. Steen,
Outdoor Life,
21 May 2025
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Songbirds cried in the surrounding trees, and the girl’s heart fluttered with unspeakable sadness.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Verb
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This small kitchen appliance has a variable speed trigger switch to make blending, pureeing, frothing, whipping and chopping as easy as pressing a button.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2025
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The Clippers were playing in Houston and the Clippers were whipping the Rockets’ ass.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
Noun
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When the Republican Charles Sumner was struck down by a Southerner on the Senate floor, Raymond’s paper called for armed resistance by pistol, bludgeon, and bowie knife, if necessary.—
Matthew Karp,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
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Todd Golden could cycle body after body in the paint to bludgeon opponents and wear them down over 40 minutes, and Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, the Gators’ two starters, were crucial parts of that rotation.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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State and federal flags flapped in the wind at half-staff behind Thomas during his speech.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 May 2025
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Viewers were able to see Cannoli racing into the sunshine, with his ears flapping, tail wagging, and body bounding forward at full throttle.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Verb
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At 19, Johnson married his wife Daphne and initially, was able to hide his drug use from her, the Johnson's clemency petition said.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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Enhanced measurement capabilities: Amazon continues investing in Amazon Marketing Cloud with new UI templates and simplified queries, suggesting a commitment to transparency rather than hiding attribution.—
Kiri Masters,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
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In the near term, countries can benefit from wielding trade as a cudgel.—
ALLISON CARNEGIE,
Foreign Affairs,
14 May 2025
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In other words, marketers who want to take advantage of the big playoff ratings are generally required to purchase regular-season inventory, although that’s not to say that the premium units are deployed as a cudgel to move the more quotidian spots.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
2 May 2025
Verb
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His college admissions have been the subject of speculation since the Trump administration's Tuesday, May 27, decision to slash all remaining federal funding to the Ivy League institution.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
28 May 2025
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Some Harvard labs, including one working on human organs-on-chips, which replicate the function of organs, have received stop-work orders following the Trump Administration’s efforts to slash funding.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Arkansas Game and Fish Commission educators will provide cane poles, rods and reels, bait and tackle and offer fishing tips.—
Flip Putthoff,
Arkansas Online,
20 May 2025
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Meanwhile sugar cane extract gently exfoliates while antioxidants to signs of aging, for overall more vibrant skin tone and improve elasticity.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flail. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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