Synonyms of flailed

flailed

verb

past tense of flail

1

as in flapped

to move or cause to move with a striking motion

started to flail his arms wildly when he spied a bat in the house

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flapped
• fluttered
• flopped
• whipped
• swung
• waved
• flicked
• knocked
• smacked
• banged
• buffeted
• thumped
• beat
• swayed
• pounded
• flitted
• flickered
• battered
• spanked
• fanned
• oscillated
• throbbed
• pulsed
• undulated
• palpitated

2

as in whipped

to strike repeatedly with something long and thin or flexible

gruesome evidence that the prisoner had been flailed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• whipped
• slashed
• lashed
• flicked
• thrashed
• slapped
• switched
• knocked
• hit
• punched
• flogged
• hided
• smacked
• scourged
• flagellated
• banged
• licked
• spanked
• cut
• pounded
• batted
• tanned
• whacked
• horsewhipped
• whaled
• mauled
• strapped
• swiped
• clapped
• leathered
• clipped
• birched
• thumped
• swatted
• cowhided
• rawhided
• beat
• clubbed
• pelted
• caned
• pummeled
• bashed
• buffeted
• bopped
• boxed
• cracked
• clobbered
• slugged
• battered
• smote
• touched up
• paddled
• mangled
• thwacked
• socked
• hammered
• cuffed
• quirted
• pasted
• bludgeoned
• lathered
• roughed
• knouted
• lambasted
• busted
• slogged
• belabored
• threshed
• tromped
• clouted
• walloped
• bunged
• whupped
• lammed
• belted
• laced
• basted
• slated
• worked over
• fibbed
• cudgeled
• pistol-whipped
• blackjacked
• fustigated
• whopped
• drubbed
• pommeled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flailed

While the Yankees are often criticized for being too analytical, tabbing Cole goes against the numbers, as Tampa’s lineup has flailed against southpaws all season. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026

Harper flailed at a Sale slider that was in the other batter’s box. — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Daniels confessed that the Hendrick teams underestimated their gap to the Toyotas, which won five of the first six races, then flailed by trying to do too much in their setups at early races, including Darlington and Phoenix. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Lonsway started his career on a high note by striking out the Diamondbacks’ Ildemaro Vargas, who flailed at strike three and lost his bat. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2026

The man hugged a bag, the woman shouted and flailed her arms, and the young teenage boy pulled at his sister, who seemed stupefied. — Literary Hub, 21 July 2026

Belgium’s Hans Vanaken thumped it into the goal past defender Tim Ream, who flailed lamely as Belgium scored. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 July 2026

The 7-foot-4 phenom then flailed his right arm back and struck Reid in the neck. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026

The Braves were a ratings hit, and when the team flailed and went up for sale, Turner’s company became its owner in 1976. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026