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
Relevance
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flail
Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Gallego’s comment suggests that Democrats, flailing for an affirmative policy on the border and immigration, may also see employers, rather than workers, at the center of the debate.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
Distressed by the record’s flailing fortunes, Crewe tried pressuring Atlantic to throw more support behind it.
—Jeff Gage, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025
Through the icy porthole rubbed into Junior’s window, Inga Olsen wades toward them, arms flailing for balance.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Noun
The net worth of Tesla’s largest shareholder Musk plummeted $12 billion as the car company’s stock flailed, by far the largest daily loss of any billionaire tracked by Forbes.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Gallego’s comment suggests that Democrats, flailing for an affirmative policy on the border and immigration, may also see employers, rather than workers, at the center of the debate.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
Distressed by the record’s flailing fortunes, Crewe tried pressuring Atlantic to throw more support behind it.
—Jeff Gage, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025
Through the icy porthole rubbed into Junior’s window, Inga Olsen wades toward them, arms flailing for balance.
—Literary Hub, 10 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flail
Verb
-
Their small pink petals flutter every time there’s a breeze.—
Stephanie Lam,
Mercury News,
2 July 2025
-
The homeowner's Stars and Stripes, which was fluttering on the flagpole beside the entrance, was tangled.—
Ronnie Li,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
The designer was lucky enough to snag some handwoven jacquard with gold thread from a Venetian palazzo, whipping it into a one-of-a-kind lampshade skirt.—
Ari Stark,
Footwear News,
15 July 2025
-
Shake briefly to whip, then empty contents into a curved Hurricane glass and garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
And so Coetzee decided that El polaco would be his bludgeon against the dominance of English.—
Carey Baraka,
The Dial,
26 June 2025
-
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
Verb
-
This also prevents your zippers from flapping around, jiggling, and possibly getting damaged in transit.—
Taylor Fox,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2025
-
The glitter clung to the pavement, signs flapped in the breeze and chants rang out over the roar of traffic.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
But these unremarkable principles hide a dramatic shift in the relationship between science and government.—
David Michaels,
The Atlantic,
20 July 2025
-
More than a month after the shooting, police located the vehicle Orona had driven, hidden on a Buckeye property owned by his girlfriend’s family.—
Rey Covarrubias Jr,
AZCentral.com,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
But in other circumstances, the law became a powerful cudgel wielded to influence concerns that at best had a tangential relationship to the environment.—
Liam Dillon,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2025
-
If confirmed, the 64-year-old would oversee the nearly $1.5 trillion the federal government spends on Medicare and Medicaid — health insurance programs that make up a large amount of the budget and have often been wielded as political cudgels.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Opposition parties have since stymied Lai's agenda, refusing to approve constitutional court justices, slashing spending, and cutting defense budgets.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
26 July 2025
-
And for home security, the Arlo Pro 5S 2K security camera bundle slashes 50% off and delivers crisp video, fast alerts, and powerful battery life without the setup stress.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
If consumed in excess, both cane and high-fructose corn syrup, like all sugars, can carry negative health effects including weight gain, diabetes and heart disease.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
-
Countries ranging from South America to Europe and Asia more commonly use sucrose, derived from cane or beet sugar, in Coca-Cola.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flail. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share