Thesaurus results for FLAIL

flail 1 of 2

verb

Definition of flail

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

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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

flail

2 of 2

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

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 See All Example Sentences for flail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flail

Verb

Yellow caution tape fluttered in the wind as water poured into a room strewn with wooden debris, an upturned refrigerator and a television.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Out in the garden, living butterflies flutter among orchids and flowering shrubs, some landing in butterfly traps hanging from the trees.

— Sophie Neiman, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of flutter

Verb

Now imagine whipping your phone out after work, telling the world about it, and landing a brand deal worth $10K or more.

— Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Now imagine the same hot and dry conditions, but with the Santa Anas whipping at 40 miles an hour.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of whip

Verb

Birds chirp in the tree branches above, and a large yellow butterfly alights on a leaf before flapping away into the sloping sunshine.

— Sophie Neiman, Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2026
That means the bird species flapping around in backyards today are effectively the only surviving dinosaurs.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of flap

Noun

With a bowler hat, a toothbrush mustache, and a crook cane, Charlie Chaplin’s bumbling alter ego the Tramp lit up the big screen.

— Michael Gioia, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
Just three days after surgery to remove one of his kidneys, Miller slowly strolled right in — cane in hand — and took a seat with Council, firing off jokes without missing a beat.

— Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of cane

Verb

As a result, they’re pressured to either increase prices or slash inventory and give consumers fewer choices.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
An increase to the benchmark interest rate aims to slash inflation by slowing the economy and eating away at demand, though the policy typically yields results after a lag time lasting several months.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of slash

Noun

Just the mere threat of a False Claims Act investigation is a powerful cudgel, lawyers have said.

— Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
While lawmakers have mostly thrown their backing behind the bill, some are wary of granting the president even more leeway to impose import taxes as a foreign policy cudgel.

— Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 31 July 2026

Definition of cudgel

Browse Nearby Words

flag-wavers

flail

flailed

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“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flail. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of flail

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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