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

Relevance

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

She was then treated and cleared for travel, and her sling was padded with foam to keep her from flailing her tail. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026 Whining, crying, kicking, hitting, flailing, dropping to the floor, holding their breath, going limp, running away or throwing things are all part of the picture. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Trump is merely flailing for options that might avoid the humiliation of losing the war or the risk of escalating beyond standoff strikes. — Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026 Wang joined in June of last year as the centerpiece of CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s effort to revamp his company’s flailing artificial intelligence strategy. — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flail

Recent Examples of Synonyms for flail

Verb

These days, Jackson and her drag king character live in Ramsgate, a port town on England’s southeast coast where – much like Pat’s flag – strings of Union Jacks flutter along the harbor.

— Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
For Arbaeen, the lights inside the shrine and the flags fluttering from its golden dome are switched to red – the color of vengeance.

— Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of flutter

Verb

Ella Langley continues to whip fans into a frenzy on social media.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Deploying everything from pickled green strawberries and fresh peas to whipped labneh with Banyul vinegar glaze, artful Viennoiserie evokes more than a little whimsy that spans sweet and savory.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of whip

Verb

Above the dancers flapped a ring of American flags, each representing a military veteran from the community who had passed away.

— Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Thanks in part to a National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowship, Drew explored several designs for flying and became interested in creating robots that flap their wings in a way similar to real-life creatures.

— Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of flap

Verb

The expansion will take players to the brand new realm of Letten — an idyllic land of rural tradition that hides a dark secret just below the surface.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to hide his own extremism and Texans will see right through it.

— Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of hide

Noun

As for full-body treatments, the Prickly Pear Sugar Scrub draws on Sonoran Desert botanicals like prickly pear and calendula extract, combined with cane-sugar-rich oils and hydrating body butter, for a thoroughly rejuvenating exfoliation.

— Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 28 Aug. 2026
That resident could be seen later walking with a cane after taking that leap of faith from his third-floor window.

— Jennifer Bisram, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of cane

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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Style

“Flail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flail. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of flail

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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