flailing

American  

[fley-ling] / ˈfleɪ lɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of moving one’s limbs or body about randomly and wildly (often followed by around orabout ).

   The patient had to be sedated, as her flailing gave the nurse a bloody nose.

2. the act or process of making desperate attempts to respond to a difficult or awkward situation (often followed by around orabout ).

   Embracing the challenge of doing business differently doesn't just mean more effort, more mindless flailing around.

3. the act or process of beating grain with a flail to separate the kernel from the chaff.

   As wheat production increased, flailing and winnowing were replaced with threshing machines and fanning mills.

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adjective

1. moving about randomly and wildly, or making desperate attempts to respond to a challenge.

   I was pushed out of bed by the flailing limbs of my overexcited little boy.

   There was no real strike, only a flailing protest by unions trying to become relevant again.

Etymology

Origin of flailing

First recorded in 1850–55; flail ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; flail ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

A ball dropping, a defender flailing and a striker as cool as can be, cushioning the ball up and over a stranded goalkeeper.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Not Brody, whose chiseled, wiry presence is ever in motion, flailing, ducking, wincing, yearning.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

“Agility is great, but unless you have a plan, you’re still flailing around,” Birken said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Mr. Bernthal, an Emmy winner for “The Bear,” imbues Sonny with a pinballing energy as he gabbles orders at the hostages and begins flailing negotiations with the cops massing outside.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Rowan and Jonn slipped and fell, their hands flailing helplessly, their feet sliding from beneath them as they struggled to rise and run again.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

Related Words

• whipping