flail

1. (transitive) To beat using a flail or similar implement.transitive

2. (transitive) To wave or swing vigorouslyExamples: "Tangling with Ziv, Cameron caught him with a flailing elbow, causing the Israeli defender to go down a little easily. However, the referee was in no doubt, much to the displeasure of the home fans."; "He stopped in his tracks – then, flailing his arms wildly in the air, began to stagger backwards."Synonyms: thrashtransitive

3. (transitive) To thresh.transitive

4. (intransitive) To move like a flail.Examples: "He was flailing wildly, but didn't land a blow."; "Undismayed he continued to flail with the broken half of it, denting many a helmet[.]"intransitive