What is another word for flailing?

Pronunciation: [flˈe͡ɪlɪŋ] (IPA)

When someone is flailing, they are waving or thrashing their limbs in a wild and uncontrolled manner. Some synonyms for this word include floundering, struggling, and thrashing. Floundering suggests a struggle to maintain balance or coordination, while struggling implies a difficult effort to resist something. Thrashing, on the other hand, suggests violent, vigorous movements that are often associated with desperation or panic. Other synonyms for flailing include waving, flapping, jerking, and whirling, which can convey a sense of chaotic movement or lack of direction. Overall, these words all suggest a lack of control and a frantic energy.

What are the hypernyms for Flailing?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

Usage examples for Flailing

They rose, flailing a while, then renewed their embrace, and, grunting, bestowed themselves anew upon our ever too receptive Mother Earth.
"Penrod and Sam"
Booth Tarkington
He started to stagger, trailing an empty cuff behind him, flailing his arms wildly.
"Out Like a Light"
Gordon Randall Garrett
He nodded, then turned and swam away, flippers flailing as though trying to hurry.
"The Wailing Octopus"
Harold Leland Goodwin

Famous quotes with Flailing

  • Our stock in trade is raw, flailing sex.
    Al Goldstein
  • Action is at bottom a swinging and flailing of the arms to regain one's balance and keep afloat.
    Eric Hoffer
  • I fear that our true motivation is about oil and our own flailing economy; about the failure to destroy Al Qaeda and about revenge.
    Dave Matthews
  • Action is at bottom a swinging and flailing of the arms to regain one's balance and keep afloat.
    Eric Hoffer
  • Concentration, focus, long-term thinking—those are the qualities that separate a warrior from a mere flailing fighter.”
    Timothy Zahn

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