: 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 their arms 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
Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
None of it means that much to Aleida, who, like Kelly, is quietly flailing a bit.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
In these latest cuts, some of the other firings were in sales, recruiting, and Facebook, signaling that Zuckerberg is separating the chaff in non-AI related units beyond its flailing Metaverse division.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Or the weak one may flail about for his whole life, trying to catch up to the one who always won.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flail
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Verb
Williams then flailed his arms behind him and slapped Doncic in the throat.
—Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
None of it means that much to Aleida, who, like Kelly, is quietly flailing a bit.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
In these latest cuts, some of the other firings were in sales, recruiting, and Facebook, signaling that Zuckerberg is separating the chaff in non-AI related units beyond its flailing Metaverse division.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Or the weak one may flail about for his whole life, trying to catch up to the one who always won.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flail
Cite this Entry
“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flail. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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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