1
as in to flutter
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
started to flail his arms wildly when he spied a bat in the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to whip
to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible
gruesome evidence that the prisoner had been flailed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flail
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Quenton Jackson, Indiana (PG) Jackson is at a different stage than most players on this list, entering his age-28 season after a solid 49-game 2025-26 season for the flailing Pacers.
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John Hollinger,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Crow-Armstrong flailed and pounded the offering into the ground.
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Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
But at the last second, Pages pulled up to let Tucker make the catch, and Tucker hesitated before flailing after it.
—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flail
Verb
The keeper could do nothing but flail and then turn and scream in frustration at his defense’s failings at the crucial moment.
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Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Quenton Jackson, Indiana (PG) Jackson is at a different stage than most players on this list, entering his age-28 season after a solid 49-game 2025-26 season for the flailing Pacers.
—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Crow-Armstrong flailed and pounded the offering into the ground.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
But at the last second, Pages pulled up to let Tucker make the catch, and Tucker hesitated before flailing after it.
—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for flail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flail
Verb
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But Curls Ultra aren’t solely interested in resurrecting the mysticism of the past or indulging in the parties of the present, the occasional fluttering flute solo or boisterous sax line notwithstanding.
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Cassettes fluttered, CDs skipped, and choosing a dozen albums for a trip meant leaving dozens more behind.
Verb
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Police have arrested a 22-year-old man who was caught on camera whipping a yellow taxi cab with a belt, damaging the hood, following the Knicks’ comeback victory in Game 4 of the NBA finals, officials said Friday.
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Democrats work ceaselessly to whip the American people into a frenzy of hate and conflict.
Noun
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For decades, the Fifth Fleet has been the U.S.’s principle bludgeon to ensure freedom of navigation through the strait.
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Iran practices honest bludgeon work.
Verb
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In the video, backed by champagne synths and hopscotching snares, a tuxedoed Jaeychino strolls the beach in Margiela sneakers, his jacket flapping in the wind as seafoam washes ashore.
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On the touchline, MacPhee flapped his arms in frustration.
Verb
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Turns out, a kid brought in with gunshot wounds died in that room the same night, and a final look at the security footage shows a mysterious third man — clearly hiding his face from all cameras under a label-less baseball cap — entering the same room around the same time as Ji.
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Stealth jurors — those who hide their true biases to influence a verdict — could pose a serious problem for prosecutors in either of Mangione's cases, Rahmani said.
Noun
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Jung, who is going into his senior year of high school, said SmartBlink can detect pedestrians using wheelchairs, crutches or canes, too.
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An individual bush can grow up to 15 feet high and 40 feet long, with thick stems, also known as canes, marked by sharp, hooked thorns.
Verb
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Keywords Studios is slashing 128 jobs in San Francisco.
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Nor slashing domestic draft bonuses from last year’s payout of $401 million to $200 million.
Noun
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The measure’s main backer is the SEIU United Health Workers West, whose president, Dave Regan, has a long track record of using ballot measures as a cudgel to win concessions from labor adversaries.
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Judges, attorneys, guardians and other court professionals have repeatedly used custody as a cudgel, according to some family court attorneys and advocates, punishing parents for their conduct by limiting their access to their children.
Cite this Entry
“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flail. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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