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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of flail
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
The chaos allows a Triarchy ship to harpoon Jace's dragon, Vermax, dragging the flailing creature down into the ocean, along with Rhaenyra's heir.
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Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
Reese and the Dream played Indiana on Thursday as well, where Reese was caught mocking Clark by flailing around during the stoppage in play.
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Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for flail
Verb
Their final side battle was ferocious and flailing.
—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
The chaos allows a Triarchy ship to harpoon Jace's dragon, Vermax, dragging the flailing creature down into the ocean, along with Rhaenyra's heir.
—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 June 2026
Reese and the Dream played Indiana on Thursday as well, where Reese was caught mocking Clark by flailing around during the stoppage in play.
—
Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
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
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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Red, black and gold flags are flying from car bonnets and fluttering on balconies, especially on matchdays.
Verb
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Scotland carried the ball for 13 phases to enter Argentina's 22 and Hutchinson whipped an accurate long pass to Tuipulotu on the right wing who scored untouched.
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Olise kept his intentions hidden to the last, shaping up to cross the ball to the back post before sharply turning his hips and whipping his pass into the goalscorer’s path, breaking two defensive lines along the way.
Noun
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Iran practices honest bludgeon work.
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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
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Video from the group's livestream showed Luna flapping his wings on a branch before taking off.
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Moist towels soothe necks, mist bottles spray short relief, hand fans flap in overdrive; motorized fans are held up to strangers at cafés, who have resorted to pouring water directly on their chests for cooling.
Verb
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For loungability there’s a king bed, a hide-a-bed sofa, a fireplace and theater seats.
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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
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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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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.
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Sacramento Kings general manager Scott Perry has vowed to slash his team’s exorbitant payroll to get below the luxury tax threshold.
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 5 Jul. 2026.
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