flail

See definition of flail on Dictionary.com

How to use flail in a sentence

These layoffs are helping contribute to flailing consumer sentiment about the economy, which in itself could contribute to a recession.

'ONLY THE PARANOID SURVIVE.' SOME CEOS ARE CUTTING STAFF EVEN AS THE LABOR MARKET BOOMSALANA SEMUELSAUGUST 5, 2022TIME

Her teens had been so sheltered, she was left flailing as she entered adulthood and began experimenting with sex and alcohol.

JENNETTE MCCURDY LIVED A TEEN STAR DREAM. SILENTLY, SHE WAS SUFFERING.ASHLEY SPENCERAUGUST 5, 2022WASHINGTON POST

At first, when the model knows nothing about moving, the body flails around as it tries out random motions.

VIRTUAL CRITTERS EVOLVE BODIES THAT HELP THEM LEARNKATHRYN HULICKJULY 8, 2022SCIENCE NEWS FOR STUDENTS

The two ground huggers mostly flailed ineffectively in the wind.

‘WANDERING’ SALAMANDERS GLIDE LIKE SKYDIVERS FROM THE WORLD’S TALLEST TREESJAKE BUEHLERMAY 23, 2022SCIENCE NEWS

Vance is flailing in a race that many here in Washington thought was his to lose.

J.D. VANCE PRAISED FRANCE'S POPULAR VOTE ELECTIONS. WHY THAT MISSES THE POINTPHILIP ELLIOTTAPRIL 12, 2022TIME

To watch her confirmation hearings was to observe how embarrassingly hard some are willing to flail, how eager to engage in histrionics and disinformation, just to slow the coming of change—or to recast it and its potential agents as a threat.

KETANJI BROWN JACKSON’S CONFIRMATION WAS A REFERENDUM ON WHO GETS TO HAVE POWER IN AMERICAJANELL ROSSAPRIL 7, 2022TIME

From Colombia to Morocco to Afghanistan, they’ve grown up watching America flail militarily and disgrace itself politically.

THE BRAIN DRAIN THAT IS KILLING AMERICA'S ECONOMYPARAG KHANNAJANUARY 21, 2022TIME

The corner tried to jump the route and intercept, but flailed and missed, which was basically the Eagles all game.

THE NFL’S WILD-CARD WEEKEND WAS WEIRDER AND DUMBER THAN IT HAD ANY RIGHT TO BESARA ZIEGLER (SARA.ZIEGLER@FIVETHIRTYEIGHT.COM)JANUARY 18, 2022FIVETHIRTYEIGHT

My favorite, in the early episodes at least, is Shoniquia Shandai’s lovable wildcard Angie, a flailing singer who’s taking a second chance at a career years after getting dropped by her label.

5 GREAT NEW DECEMBER 2021 TV SHOWS TO BINGE OVER THE HOLIDAYSJUDY BERMANDECEMBER 23, 2021TIME

The little critter then flails around, almost as if it’s throwing a fit to scare off hungry birds, Jaffe says.

INFLATABLE TENTACLES AND SILK HATS: SEE HOW CATERPILLARS TRICK PREDATORS TO SURVIVEERIN FENNESSYOCTOBER 29, 2021POPULAR-SCIENCE

SYNONYM OF THE DAY

OCTOBER 26, 1985

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