Synonyms of flail

flail 1 of 2

verb

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

• flutter
• flap
• whip
• flop
• swing
• wave
• sway
• beat
• smack
• flick
• knock
• thump
• flit
• spank
• bang
• oscillate
• pound
• flicker
• batter
• fan
• pulse
• undulate
• throb
• buffet
• palpitate

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

• whip
• hide
• slash
• flick
• lash
• thrash
• slap
• hit
• flagellate
• switch
• leather
• spank
• flog
• cut
• punch
• knock
• scourge
• maul
• horsewhip
• smack
• lick
• whale
• bat
• tan
• cowhide
• whack
• birch
• bang
• clap
• rawhide
• strap
• pound
• clip
• cane
• swipe
• thump
• beat
• swat
• quirt
• smite
• pummel
• cudgel
• pelt
• box
• club
• bludgeon
• knout
• hammer
• rough
• paddle
• thwack
• clobber
• bop
• touch up
• bash
• mangle
• slug
• crack
• belt
• thresh
• sock
• cuff
• clout
• paste
• lather
• blackjack
• lambaste
• pommel
• batter
• slate
• bust
• work over
• lam
• whup
• bung
• drub
• slog
• whop
• fustigate
• belabor
• wallop
• baste
• fib
• buffet
• tromp
• pistol-whip
• lace

flail

2 of 2

noun

as in bludgeon

Related Words

• bludgeon
• cane
• cudgel
• baton
• nightstick
• bat
• billy
• bastinado
• staff
• billy club
• strap
• knout
• hickory
• rattan
• quirt
• bullwhip
• crop
• birch
• whip
• club
• blacksnake
• rawhide
• cowhide
• flogger
• lash
• cat-o'-nine-tails
• switch
• scourge

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flail

Verb

The radical group believes that sacrificing three people is the key to saving humanity — when all Tyler wants to do is save his flailing acting career. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2026

Their good fortune is picking up speed, as the increasingly sclerotic and daft president furiously flails. — Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

So, why now, halfway through the first take of the shoot, was Axl flailing his arm like a windmill with his jacket hurling around through space like a lasso? — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026

Daniels confessed that the Hendrick teams underestimated their gap to the Toyotas, which won five of the first six races, then flailed by trying to do too much in their setups at early races, including Darlington and Phoenix. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026