Meaning & use
Flailed
Last updated
Waved or thrashed the arms or legs about wildly and without control.
See it in a sentence
He flailed his arms desperately as he struggled to stay afloat.
The economy flailed under the weight of rising debt and inflation.
A note on using this word
Figuratively used to describe something struggling or failing badly, as in 'the campaign flailed in its final weeks.'
Words with a similar meaning
thrashedfloundered
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