: 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
flailed; flailing; flails
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
: 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
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
This was no ordinary offense that the Dodgers left flailing.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
The New York Jets are flailing, still trying to crack the seal for their first win of 2025.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
According to the Money Doctor, the administration’s interest in a plan that would substitute the dollar for the flailing Argentine peso has greatly intensified in recent weeks as Milei’s political fortunes have weakened.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Elsbeth, who could make friends with a pepper grinder, is flailing a little bit in her attempts to connect deeply with her other colleagues.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
This was no ordinary offense that the Dodgers left flailing.
—Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 18 Oct. 2025
The New York Jets are flailing, still trying to crack the seal for their first win of 2025.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
According to the Money Doctor, the administration’s interest in a plan that would substitute the dollar for the flailing Argentine peso has greatly intensified in recent weeks as Milei’s political fortunes have weakened.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Cite this Entry
“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flail. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
flail
1 of 2 noun
: a tool for threshing grain by hand
flail
2 of 2 verb1
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share