flailing

[ fley-ling ]

/ ˈfleɪ lɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: flailing / flailings on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of moving one’s limbs or body about randomly and wildly (often followed by around or about): The patient had to be sedated, as her flailing gave the nurse a bloody nose.

the act or process of making desperate attempts to respond to a difficult or awkward situation (often followed by around or about): Embracing the challenge of doing business differently doesn't just mean more effort, more mindless flailing around.

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.

adjective

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.

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Origin of flailing

flail + -ing¹ for the noun senses; flail + -ing² for the adjective sense

Words nearby flailing

flag-waving, Flagyl, Flaherty, flail, flail chest, flailing, flail joint, flair, flak, flake, flakeboard

How to use flailing in a sentence

I enjoyed whipping through enemies with a flail that increases in speed and momentum the more its swung.
‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ impressions: Rekindling the spirit of the series|Elise Favis|November 9, 2020|Washington Post
The firing of a new executive brought in to shake up the flailing show is getting dead-movie-star tabloid coverage.
Behind the ‘Today’ Show’s Latest Meltdown|Lloyd Grove|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As he performs, he can be seen flailing around on the street in front of a setting sun.
Meet Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary, aka L. Jinny, the Ali G of Evil|Olivia Nuzzi|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But can a 22-year-old winning formula save a flailing system?
‘Mario Kart 8’ May Be Nintendo’s Shell-Throwing Savior|Alec Kubas-Meyer|May 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

What do you do when your political career is flailing and the election is only weeks away?
The Strange Texas Political Ad That Parodies Frozen|Ben Jacobs|May 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A flailing genre seems revitalized, if “revitalized” means youth, though not female, or black, or openly gay talent.
Which Stephen Colbert Will We See on CBS?|Tim Teeman|April 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Men rushed to get away from the reach of those flailing arms.
Hunters Out of Space|Joseph Everidge Kelleam
It was like an inexpert boxer flailing according to rules unknownand Greys face flamed and actually turned anxious.
Erskine Dale--Pioneer|John Fox
He balled his fists and hammered air like a windmill, arms flailing, striking flesh often enough to batter Larry toward the floor.
A Place in the Sun|C.H. Thames
But always, when a fly was hit, his ear registered the crack of the flailing bat, and his eye followed the ascending ball.
The Boy Scouts of Lakeville High|Leslie W. Quirk
He drove them to the sidewalk, flailing away at those within reach.
The Sheriff's Son|William MacLeod Raine

flailing

Origin of flailing

Words nearby flailing

Words related to flailing

How to use flailing in a sentence