: 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
Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 July 2025
But over the last week, Mora has started three times for his country, tip-tapping between flailing legs with the ball at his feet, his confidence and dribbling ability utterly defying his years.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 July 2025
The book also examines the Harris campaign during the 2024 presidential election, detailing warnings that the then-vice president should disassociate herself from the flailing Biden White House.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2025
Similarly, Barnes and Saenz de Viteri’s work appears at first all winky smiles, earnest exuberance and breezy dialogue layered over flailing arms, speedy footwork and spoken self-deprecating asides, often set to a Golden Oldies soundtrack.
—Brian Schaefer
july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
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Verb
Messiahs brought in from the outside to rescue flailing enterprises rarely live up to expectations.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 July 2025
But over the last week, Mora has started three times for his country, tip-tapping between flailing legs with the ball at his feet, his confidence and dribbling ability utterly defying his years.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 8 July 2025
The book also examines the Harris campaign during the 2024 presidential election, detailing warnings that the then-vice president should disassociate herself from the flailing Biden White House.
—Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 8 July 2025
Similarly, Barnes and Saenz de Viteri’s work appears at first all winky smiles, earnest exuberance and breezy dialogue layered over flailing arms, speedy footwork and spoken self-deprecating asides, often set to a Golden Oldies soundtrack.
—Brian Schaefer
july 7, Literary Hub, 7 July 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 18 Jul. 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
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