flail

1 of 2

noun

: a hand threshing implement consisting of a wooden handle at the end of which a stouter and shorter stick is so hung as to swing freely

flail

2 of 2

verb

flailed; flailing; flails

transitive verb

1
a
: to strike with or as if with a flail
The bird's wings flailed the water.
b
: to move, swing, or beat as if wielding a flail
flailing a club to drive away the insects
2
: to thresh (grain) with a flail

intransitive verb

: to move, swing, or beat like a flail
arms flailing in the water

Examples of flail in a Sentence

Verb They were flailing their arms to drive away the insects. The wounded animal lay on the ground, flailing helplessly. He was wildly flailing about on the dance floor. The bird's wings flailed the water.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
After deputies removed him from the car, fixed the handcuffs and sat him on a bench, the man began kicking and flailing against the deputies, officials said. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2024 After Miami closed to within nine points in the fourth, Jokic hit a flailing bank shot. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 Season 8 feels like a monument to flawed ambition and flailing Peak TV decadence, all massive battle scenes and brainless strategy. Darren Franich, EW.com, 29 Feb. 2024 To allow the government to shut down would be yet another indication of dysfunction among House Republicans that would serve as a life raft to Democrats at a time when Biden is flailing in polls. The Editors, National Review, 28 Feb. 2024 Trump’s campaign to remain in power was already in full, if flailing, swing. Danny Hakim, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2024 Chewing on his mouthguard … thumping his fist on his chest ... waving his arms to rile up the crowd ... jawing with opposing players … gesturing to fans … arguing with officials … high stepping, arms flailing, into huddles. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024 Topline Stocks and bonds flailed Tuesday, as a worse-than-expected inflation reading doused market expectations of a dramatic shift in monetary policy coming any time soon. Derek Saul, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024 But the decision will fuel fears about the state of China’s property market — which makes up about one-fifth of the economy — and could ripple through the world’s second largest economy, already flailing. Meaghan Tobin, Washington Post, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English fleil, flail, partly from Old English *flegel (whence Old English fligel), from Late Latin flagellum flail, from Latin, whip & partly from Anglo-French flael, from Late Latin flagellum — more at flagellate

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of flail was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near flail

Cite this Entry

“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flail. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

flail

1 of 2 noun
: a tool for threshing grain by hand

flail

2 of 2 verb
1
: to strike with or as if with a flail
2
: to move or wave about as if swinging a flail
flailed their arms

Medical Definition

flail

adjective
: exhibiting abnormal mobility and loss of response to normal controls
used of body parts damaged by paralysis, injury, or surgery
flail joint

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