1
as in flapped
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 whipped
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 flailed
Another turn in a winning season that would have seemed improbable two months ago, when the Phillies flailed and manager Rob Thomson lost his job.
—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Crow-Armstrong flailed and pounded the offering into the ground.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
The 7-foot-4 phenom then flailed his right arm back and struck Reid in the neck.
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
The Braves were a ratings hit, and when the team flailed and went up for sale, Turner’s company became its owner in 1976.
—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Gorman flailed at a 96 mph full-count four-seamer.
—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
After being placed in a government vehicle, Ferreira Borges allegedly kicked, flailed, and screamed obscenities at officers, officials said.
—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
On an odd-man rush, New Jersey's Jesper Bratt scored the go-ahead goal for his second score of the game from the left circle off a perfect pass from Jack Hughes as John Gibson flailed around in an attempt to stop the puck.
—
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Coach Hansen flailed his fist, calling it the biggest win in school history, the program’s second NorCal victory after Tuesday’s resounding 84-58 home win over Destiny Christian-Sacramento.
—
Mitch Stephens,
San Francisco Chronicle,
6 Mar. 2026
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Crow-Armstrong flailed and pounded the offering into the ground.
—
Justice Delos Santos,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
The 7-foot-4 phenom then flailed his right arm back and struck Reid in the neck.
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
The Braves were a ratings hit, and when the team flailed and went up for sale, Turner’s company became its owner in 1976.
—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Gorman flailed at a 96 mph full-count four-seamer.
—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
After being placed in a government vehicle, Ferreira Borges allegedly kicked, flailed, and screamed obscenities at officers, officials said.
—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
On an odd-man rush, New Jersey's Jesper Bratt scored the go-ahead goal for his second score of the game from the left circle off a perfect pass from Jack Hughes as John Gibson flailed around in an attempt to stop the puck.
—
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Coach Hansen flailed his fist, calling it the biggest win in school history, the program’s second NorCal victory after Tuesday’s resounding 84-58 home win over Destiny Christian-Sacramento.
—
Mitch Stephens,
San Francisco Chronicle,
6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flailed
Verb
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On the touchline, MacPhee flapped his arms in frustration.
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The jacket hugged every contour of your torso and never flapped in the wind.
Verb
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Aceh’s Sharia court ordered the two people to be whipped with a rattan cane 21 times each for kissing without being married.
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Impress party-goers with this Fourth of July colored layered dessert starring fresh berries, angel food cake, and whipped topping.
Verb
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Cassettes fluttered, CDs skipped, and choosing a dozen albums for a trip meant leaving dozens more behind.
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Dozens of butterflies, likely variable checkerspots with hints of yellow and red on their wings, fluttered all around.
Verb
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Trump slashed access to healthcare benefits and prohibited deferred action holders from obtaining or using commercial driver’s licenses.
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Cuts to funding for people with disabilities, rising tuition costs and slashed teacher salaries would all be on the table, said Fogle, a Springfield Democrat.
Verb
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Many on the right lashed out at conservative justices who joined the majority decision.
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The sting of the Australian box jellyfish has been described as being lashed with a whip dipped in burning acid, and is powerful enough to kill an adult in as little as two minutes!
Verb
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After a corner kick and a nice cross, Sanchez flicked the ball in with his head as Colombian fans erupted.
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Boxed into the corner by two Americans, Güler flicked the ball perfectly between Pulisic's legs and ran around him, creating the space necessary to start the final sequence.
Verb
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Critics and fanboy media thrashed Supergirl not just for its Guardians of the Galaxy touchstones, but also for aping Mad Max.
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On Tuesday, Uzbekistan was soundly thrashed by Portugal 5-0 — significantly reducing the country's chances to qualify for the next round of play in this World Cup, the first ever for a Central Asian nation.
Verb
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Some of them slapped strict limits on all gas stations; in others, gas station chains limited how much fuel could be bought.
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Actor Orlando Brown slapped recording artist Ray J in the face with a wad of cash.
Cite this Entry
“Flailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flailed. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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