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
Relevance
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
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.
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.
—
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
Verb
The keeper could do nothing but flail and then turn and scream in frustration at his defense’s failings at the crucial moment.
—
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
-
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.
-
Red, black and gold flags are flying from car bonnets and fluttering on balconies, especially on matchdays.
Verb
-
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.
-
Democrats work ceaselessly to whip the American people into a frenzy of hate and conflict.
Noun
-
Iran practices honest bludgeon work.
-
But Beshear hasn’t turned Trump-bashing into a 24/7 vocation, or a weight-lifting contest where the winner is the critic wielding the heaviest bludgeon.
Verb
-
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.
-
On the touchline, MacPhee flapped his arms in frustration.
Verb
-
For loungability there’s a king bed, a hide-a-bed sofa, a fireplace and theater seats.
-
When Fluffy failed to come out of hiding after 24 hours, Melissa Kirby and her husband began making and posting missing cat posters around their neighborhood.
Noun
-
Jung, who is going into his senior year of high school, said SmartBlink can detect pedestrians using wheelchairs, crutches or canes, too.
-
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
-
The billionaire was an early ally and donor to the president, but left acrimoniously after a four-month stint as a special government employee running the contentious budget-slashing effort known as DOGE.
-
Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry has vowed to slash his team’s exorbitant payroll to get below the luxury tax threshold.
Noun
-
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.
-
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 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
