Definition of flail
: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
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Recent Examples of flail from the Web
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Homer Bailey once spent two innings of a game watching Reed flail and the next four breaking down video of his performance with him in the clubhouse.
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Scott appears on one mediocre chorus after another, and the rest of rap's younger generation flail along with him.
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For Christina Mallon, who has what doctors think is a rare form of A.L.S. (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease) called flail arm syndrome, every task can become a challenge.
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Fortunately, no one was hurt when Bumgarner sailed his bat into the stands just off third base on one of his mighty flails.
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With two outs, Bauer toyed with Javier Baez, throwing a 1-0 strike past him before throwing consecutive pitches way out of the strike zone and watching the young second baseman flail at them wildly to end the inning.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of flail
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
Definition of flail
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
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 of flail from the Web
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The wight flails around, so Snow uses his sword, known as Longclaw, to pin the creature against the wall.
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Ever wondered why even fairly fit people seem to flounder at the barre or flail around on a megaformer?
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To many, the flailing school system might be beyond repair.
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Everyone knows that sea lions are absolutely terrified of wacky waving inflatable arm-flailing tube men.
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Although the branches may not be touching the roof under normal conditions, hurricane winds can cause trees to bend and branches to flail.
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The process has been characterized by secret deliberations — a kind of crude and crass Republican will to power — with no bipartisan support and with Democrats flailing in the wind in protest.
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Models came out in groups, dancing and flailing on a square stage as colorful disco spotlights twirled over them.
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How long could one man remain in charge of a company that seemed to be so badly flailing?
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of flail
FLAIL Defined for English Language Learners
flail
play
noun
Definition of flail for English Language Learners
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: a long-handled tool that was used in the past for beating wheat so that the grain would become separated from the wheat
flail
verb
Definition of flail for English Language Learners
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: to move or swing your arms or legs in a wild and uncontrolled way
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: to strike or hit (something or someone) in a wild and uncontrolled way
FLAIL Defined for Kids
Definition of flail for Students
flailed;
flailing
1
:to wave the arms or legs wildly
2
:to swing something with a violent motion
Medical Dictionary
flail
play
adjective
\
ˈflā(ə)l
\
medical Definition of flail
:exhibiting abnormal mobility and loss of response to normal controls
—used of body parts damaged by paralysis, injury, or surgery
- flail joint
Learn More about flail
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See words that rhyme with flail Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flail Spanish Central: Translation of flail Nglish: Translation of flail for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flail
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