flail
Example Sentences
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While investment and consumption flail, China’s dollar-denominated exports power on, surging almost 20% year-over-year last month on demand for artificial intelligence and clean-energy products.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
He opened the unlocked door of a police vehicle, climbed into the back and began to flail in distress.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
Gobert was initially assessed a common foul, but officials ruled it a flagrant after a review, saying he made an "unnecessary flail" with his arm.
From Barron's ● Feb. 21, 2026
As a beginner, I expected the arms and hands to flail around, knocking the blocks and cups around the room.
From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2026
Cynthia would wail and flail overdramatic fists in the air, all leading up to the big finish, Cynthia planting her face flat on the desk.
From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds
So much of his life is mediated though computer screens that, in person, he flails.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2024
Cure turns toward Aldridge and flails his arms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2023
Men wore black, rhythmically beating their chests in mourning or using flails to strike their backs.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 28, 2023
Blusteringly self-important, he flails through life, naïve and directionless and pontificating nonetheless.
From New York Times ● May 5, 2023
“I’m sure,” I say, forcing an I’m-fine-you-don’t-need-to-worry-about-me smile to sit on my lips while my hand flails around for the door handle.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
As time passed and no government help appeared, del Giudice became exasperated and flailed at the rubble.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
They attacked the game, while Rangers flailed wildly.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2025
His fastball was more than a tick down from his season average as he flailed with his command early.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2025
There were costume changes and choreographed dance numbers, even an intro where a moving tentacle flailed halfway out of her mouth.
From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2025
He flailed with his arms, trying to find something to hold on to.
From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner
"She came out with her two little arms flailing," family friend Rolando told AFP, asking to be identified by only his first name.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
A ball dropping, a defender flailing and a striker as cool as can be, cushioning the ball up and over a stranded goalkeeper.
From BBC ● May 23, 2026
Hannah Einbinder of “Hacks” stars as Kris, an indie-film director tasked to reboot a flailing horror franchise in the vein of “Friday the 13th.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
Once considered a canny innovator, and then, with his purchase of the flailing Washington Post, a white knight, he has since become the embodiment of capitalism run amok.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026
I shout, flailing my arms like a windmill.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Vocabulary lists containing flail
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The Diary of Anne Frank
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