flailing Definition
- 1waving or swinging wildly, especially with force or without control
- 2struggling or moving awkwardly or ungracefully
Using flailing: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "flailing" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The drowning man was flailing his arms wildly.
Example
The injured bird was flailing on the ground.
Example
The boxer was flailing his arms in an attempt to knock out his opponent.
flailing Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for flailing
- thrashing
- floundering
- tossing
- waving
- swinging
Antonyms for flailing
Phrases with flailing
Example
He was flailing around trying to find his phone.
Example
The toddler was flailing about in the water before her mother rescued her.
Example
The dancer's flailing arms were part of her performance.
Summary: flailing in Brief
The term 'flailing' [ˈfleɪlɪŋ] describes wild or uncontrolled movements, often with force or without grace. It can refer to physical actions like 'The drowning man was flailing his arms wildly,' or more abstract concepts like 'flailing around,' meaning moving without purpose or direction. 'Flailing' can also describe a lack of coordination, as in 'The toddler was flailing about in the water.'