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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flail
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
Another flailing, electricity-sparking psychic break!
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Royals World Series legends join Savannah Bananas at The K
Here are more notable aspects of Saturday’s game:
Royals flail at the plate
The Royals needed the heroic efforts of Pasquantino and Perez on Saturday.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025
Domi lined up Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov from behind just as the final buzzer was sounding on Sunday’s 2-0 loss and sent him flailing into the boards from a vulnerable position, kicking off a scrum that could reverberate back to Toronto for Game 5 of this second-round series.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Verb
The implications go far beyond miniature flailing tube men.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
Another flailing, electricity-sparking psychic break!
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Royals World Series legends join Savannah Bananas at The K
Here are more notable aspects of Saturday’s game:
Royals flail at the plate
The Royals needed the heroic efforts of Pasquantino and Perez on Saturday.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025
Domi lined up Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov from behind just as the final buzzer was sounding on Sunday’s 2-0 loss and sent him flailing into the boards from a vulnerable position, kicking off a scrum that could reverberate back to Toronto for Game 5 of this second-round series.
—Chris Johnston, New York Times, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flail
Verb
-
On a 13-foot-tall wall almost 40 feet across, a kaleidoscope of metal butterflies are now in flight, fluttering around a centerpiece painting on aluminum metal.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 June 2025
-
On an interior mural, a lac bird flutters its wings.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
23 May 2025
Verb
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The suspect, who sported pink hair and several face piercings, got into the 68-year-old victim’s cab around 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, pretending to be a customer, but instead whipped out a knife and demanded the victim’s property, according to cops.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
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For example, defendants in this state are allowed to hire experts to lie and the defense can then whip the public into a frenzy by promoting the lies.—
Wendy Murphy,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
When the Republican Charles Sumner was struck down by a Southerner on the Senate floor, Raymond’s paper called for armed resistance by pistol, bludgeon, and bowie knife, if necessary.—
Matthew Karp,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
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Todd Golden could cycle body after body in the paint to bludgeon opponents and wear them down over 40 minutes, and Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, the Gators’ two starters, were crucial parts of that rotation.—
Jim Root,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
Two panoramic terraces look out onto Positano and the sea, framed by leafy plants, colorful throw pillows and flapping curtains that add a touch of mystic to the whole ambiance.—
Livia Hengel,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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Your baby will get a kick out of watching their ears flap in time to the rhythm, encouraging them to join in the fun.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
Ukraine was able to smuggle drones deep into Russia by hiding them in the tops of flatbed trucks, which parked near military bases before the drones lifted off to attack planes on the runway.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 June 2025
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Though Polish presidential candidates often stand as individuals, rather than representatives of a party, there is little hiding their affiliations, and each major party historically endorses and campaigns for a candidate.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
2 June 2025
Noun
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Those kinds of broadsides could be a particularly powerful cudgel against Trump just five months into his second term.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
7 June 2025
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Trump has used the ECB’s recent rate cuts as a cudgel with which to pressure Fed Chair Jerome Powell.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
Verb
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The obvious problem is there are not enough things to slash to pay for the irresponsible tax cuts and spending included in the bill.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
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Some protesters hurled large chunks of broken concrete at officers, slashed tires and defaced buildings, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Noun
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Carrying a wooden cane, Camus led Yarvin through the small town of Plieux.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
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The look was elevated with a matching fur stole and a cane, accessories that nodded to the opulence of Black Dandyism.—
Jailynn Taylor,
Essence,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flail. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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