adjective
flailing
FLAY-lihng
Flailing (adjective) means moving in an uncontrolled, uncoordinated way, or struggling without success. Example: “The flailing business finally shut its doors after years of losses.”
adjective
1
Moving in an uncontrolled, uncoordinated way, or struggling without success.
"The flailing business finally shut its doors after years of losses."
"She caught his flailing arm before he fell."
How to use flailing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThrashing about with no control — used literally for limbs, and figuratively for a struggling project or effort.
Common pairings
flailing arms
a flailing campaign
flailing about
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Word forms
- Plural
- flailings
- Comparative
- more flailing
- Superlative
- most flailing
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ business finally shut its doors after years of losses.
Rhymes for flailing
See all rhymes for flailing →Frequently asked questions
What does “flailing” mean?
The word “flailing” means moving in an uncontrolled, uncoordinated way, or struggling without success. In plain terms, thrashing about with no control — used literally for limbs, and figuratively for a struggling project or effort.
How do you pronounce “flailing”?
“Flailing” is pronounced FLAY-lihng (/ˈfleɪlɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “flailing” in a sentence?
Here is “flailing” used in a sentence: “The flailing business finally shut its doors after years of losses.”
What part of speech is “flailing”?
“Flailing” is an adjective.
