Synonyms of flails

flails 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flail

1

as in flutters

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

• flutters
• flaps
• whips
• flops
• waves
• swings
• smacks
• sways
• beats
• flicks
• thumps
• knocks
• bangs
• flits
• oscillates
• flickers
• pounds
• spanks
• undulates
• throbs
• fans
• batters
• pulses
• buffets
• palpitates

2

as in whips

to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible

gruesome evidence that the prisoner had been flailed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• whips
• hides
• slashes
• thrashes
• flicks
• slaps
• switches
• hits
• flogs
• lashes
• knocks
• spanks
• flagellates
• punches
• scourges
• cuts
• smacks
• licks
• mauls
• leathers
• whacks
• bangs
• tans
• whales
• pounds
• bats
• horsewhips
• claps
• straps
• clips
• swipes
• thumps
• birches
• beats
• swats
• cowhides
• rawhides
• canes
• thwacks
• smites
• quirts
• boxes
• bashes
• clubs
• bops
• bludgeons
• pummels
• hammers
• clobbers
• pelts
• threshes
• paddles
• clouts
• touches up
• socks
• cracks
• cudgels
• mangles
• pastes
• lams
• belts
• knouts
• wallops
• cuffs
• lambastes
• belabors
• lathers
• slugs
• slogs
• batters
• slates
• bastes
• roughs
• tromps
• works over
• busts
• fustigates
• blackjacks
• buffets
• laces
• pommels
• drubs
• whups
• fibs
• whops
• pistol-whips
• bungs

flails

2 of 2

noun

plural of flail

as in bludgeons

Related Words

• bludgeons
• canes
• batons
• nightsticks
• cudgels
• bats
• billies
• staffs
• billy clubs
• straps
• quirts
• bastinadoes
• whips
• crops
• bullwhips
• rattans
• hickories
• birches
• clubs
• knouts
• rawhides
• blacksnakes
• floggers
• cowhides
• cat-o'-nine-tails
• switches
• lashes
• scourges

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flails

Verb

As the economy flails and the war in Iraq wages on, 58% of people disapprove of the president, according to a New York Times aggregation of polls. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Sep. 2026

While Rhaenyra flails from one problem to the next, Ormund plots and schemes and uses his wits to undo his enemies. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

The movements are entirely reflexive, yet the arm that flails more predicts future handedness with a high level of accuracy. — Quanta Magazine, 13 July 2026

Some fans said the actor instead resembled an early-PlayStation-era cutscene character who robotically flails his limbs upon impact. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026

As Frances ascends in the art world, Avery flails financially and emotionally — and the nationwide Adderall shortage isn’t helping. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026

Premiums are poised to rise next year as the party flails on whether to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 16 Dec. 2025

The 16-year-old flails her arms, thrashes and kicks — sometimes for hours. — Calmatters, Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025