flail
noun
an instrument for threshing grain, consisting of a staff or handle with a freely swinging stick or bar attached to one end of it.
was flailing
-
past progressiveof flail.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
However, away from the House of Commons the SNP MP was "flailing through life" and became ill through depression and anxiety, she has told the BBC.
From BBC ● Mar. 6, 2025
Or maybe the pressure of playing his first concert in six years — one set to be livestreamed on YouTube before Ocean evidently pulled the plug — got to him and he was flailing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2023
In the real world, Merrell was flailing, kicking and jumping out of bed.
From Scientific American ● Jan. 24, 2023
Ms. Dunn, 63, provided direction when Mr. Biden’s campaign was flailing.
From New York Times ● Jul. 23, 2021
Thorn was flailing beside Seven in the water, but where was Valley?
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
