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
Kickboxing robots flailed wildly before falling over, and some sprinters crashed into rivals.
—
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2025
On Sunday, Merrill flailed at two sliders in the dirt from Tyler Glasnow before looking at a third down the middle for strike three to strand a runner in the first inning.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Aug. 2025
On Sunday, Merrill flailed at two sliders in the dirt from Tyler Glasnow before looking at a third down the middle for strike three to strand a runner in the first inning.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flailed
Verb
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Moytoy flapped his lips fast like an engine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
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Cunha, sitting on the turf, flapped his arms when Mbeumo failed to follow in for a tap-in.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With notes of caramel, maple sugar, and whipped coconut, Ellis Brooklyn’s latest launch proves that sweet can still be sophisticated.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
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As the winds whipped across the seaside links-style layout, the competition heated up.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the Lower West Side of Chicago, music blared and green, white and red flags fluttered down the streets of the predominantly Latino Pilsen neighborhood on Saturday as crowds gathered for the start of Mexican Independence Day celebrations.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
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Their tops and Tate’s hair fluttered in the breeze of a wind machine absurdly cranked up to Stage 4 hurricane levels.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When the pandemic hit, the Fed slashed rates, and Bitcoin initially crashed.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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While the rest of Burning Man celebrated, Kruglov lay prostrate on the ground at a faraway campsite in a comparatively desolate section of Black Rock City, his throat slashed, as a puddle of blood congealed around his lifeless body.—
Denver Nicks,
Rolling Stone,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The president has frequently lashed out at celebrities who have spoken out against him, recently including the likes of Taylor Swift, Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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Ben-Gvir, who leads a small far-right ultranationalist party, lashed out at the court ruling Sunday.—
Natalie Melzer,
Twin Cities,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Without appearing to look, Rogers flicked the ball round the corner, straight into the path of Madueke running in behind, cutting inwards from the right.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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Aniston’s new haircut incorporates more length and less volume, features a sleek root base, and focuses on the feathery, flicked ends of the original cut.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Just over three months after Paris Saint-Germain thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich to lift the trophy for the first time, European football’s most prestigious prize is up for grabs again.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Really, though, the defensive problems against a Rangers side thrashed 7-1 on their last away assignment at Coventry City ran a lot deeper than a few misplaced passes.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ma slapped me and was right to do so.—
Anahid Nersessian,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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Baltimore Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson apologized for pushing a fan, who slapped his helmet following a touchdown in the 41-40 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flailed. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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