flailings
Desperate limb movements
Flailings are wild, uncontrolled movements of the arms or legs, suggesting desperation or lack of coordination.
The term often describes physical thrashing—the flailings of a drowning swimmer—but extends to metaphorical struggles as well: the flailings of a dying administration.
Whether literal or figurative, flailings convey ineffective effort, motion without purpose or direction.
Noticeably impressive
- swingingMoving in arcs
- punchingStriking with closed fist
- kickingStriking with foot
- batteringRepeated forceful striking
pummeling · lashing · whipping · beating · attacking · defending · windmilling · haymakers
Decisive, lopsided defeat
- writhingTwisting the body convulsively
- flounderingStruggling clumsily, failing
- graspingGreedy for wealth
- clutchingHolding tightly onto
groping · scrambling · wrestling · squirming · straining · contorting · twisting · lurching
Failing to achieve purpose
- uselessWithout practical value
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- vainExcessively proud or futile
- pointlessLacking any purpose
helpless · powerless · desperate · hopeless · aimless · uncoordinated · erratic · wild
Liquid striking noisily
- gaspingBreathing in sharp gulps
- gulpingSwallowing hastily, noisily
- sinkingFalling through water
- bobbingRhythmic vertical movement
surfacing · choking · panicking · arms · treading · submerging · rescuer · lifeguard
Wildly anxious or desperate
- hystericalEmotionally out of control
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
- desperateDriven by urgent need
- alarmedFeeling sudden fear
frightened · fearful · distressed · overwrought · agitated · manic · frenetic · wild-eyed
striking
Noticeably impressive
battering · pummeling · lashing · whipping · beating · attacking · defending · windmilling · haymakers · blows
thrashing
Decisive, lopsided defeat
- writhingTwisting the body convulsively
- flounderingStruggling clumsily, failing
- graspingGreedy for wealth
clutching · groping · scrambling · wrestling · squirming · straining · contorting · twisting · lurching · reeling
ineffectual
Failing to achieve purpose
pointless · helpless · powerless · desperate · hopeless · aimless · uncoordinated · erratic · wild · haphazard
splashing
Liquid striking noisily
bobbing · surfacing · choking · panicking · arms · treading · submerging · rescuer · lifeguard · submersion
frantic
Wildly anxious or desperate
- hystericalEmotionally out of control
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
- desperateDriven by urgent need
alarmed · frightened · fearful · distressed · overwrought · agitated · manic · frenetic · wild-eyed · screaming
flailingsgraceful movements
Elegant, fluid physical actions
poise · elegance · coordination · precision · composure
flailingscalm
Free from agitation
stillness · composure · serenity · tranquility · collectedness
- flailing arms
- flailing aboutUncontrolled limb movements