thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.
an infant thrashing his arms about
Example Sentences
Verb plants and animals that flourished here thousands of years ago Regional markets have flourished in recent years. a decorative style that flourished in the 1920s Dressed as a pirate, he entered the stage flourishing his sword. Noun the floral flourishes in the living room a house with many clever little flourishes Her writing style is simple and clear, without unnecessary flourishes. Dinner was served with a flourish. He waved his sword with a flourish. She opened the door with a flourish. With a flourish of her pen, she signed the bill into law. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Cutting off the outside supply allowed the domestic slave trade to flourish. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 9 Aug. 2022 Muhajer believed that the U.S.-backed republic, though Islamic in name, was a corrupt tool of Western imperialism, whose leaders not only stole billions intended for their own people but also allowed sins like alcohol and adultery to flourish.New York Times, 8 Aug. 2022 Then, the pandemic hit, and the flows of cash that had allowed corporations to flourish over the past decade were suddenly redirected to consumers. Will Daniel, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2022 Ending that drought in a loud fashion allowed the program to flourish once again. Stephen Means, cleveland, 23 June 2022 Following two years of expansion that allowed more sites to flourish and more students to be fed, advocates with Project Bread expect the loss of 50 sites and about 5 million meals this summer as a result of the federal program’s end. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2022 Police have denied knowledge of the ransom. Uche criticized the government for the deterioration of the country's security that has allowed kidnappers to flourish. Chinedu Asadu, ajc, 3 June 2022 But now, two years later, the judicial philosophy that propelled Boudin’s win may lead to his undoing as his detractors claim that his approach to criminal justice has allowed crime to flourish and made San Francisco less safe. Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 May 2022 And the pandemic showed many other companies that their employees could flourish in a fully or partially remote work environment. Rhoan Morgan, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022
Noun
Elsewhere in track and field, Kara Winger finished with a flourish. David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 11 Sep. 2022 Or, like a cake being sliced, as the artist told Times reporter Suzanne Muchnic when the snazzy sculpture was unveiled in 1989, its architectural flourish like frosting decorating the building.Los Angeles Times, 18 July 2022 Logan pays his respects to convention and adds his own flourish. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2022 Fast forward to today, and the art and design classes from my childhood flourish in my day-to-day life at Juni, and the Chinese language lessons have been a game changer in my journey. Vivian Shen, Forbes, 9 June 2022 On the track, which features Vince Staples, the singer blends 2000s pop principles with the sound of Bollywood, and the pairing hears her flourish. James Dinh, Billboard, 3 May 2022 The EcoSport is no longer available with a jaunty, externally mounted spare tire, its one styling flourish. Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 3 Feb. 2022 The Colonels also did a good job of keeping the ball out of Baldwin's hands with him taking only two shots since his opening flourish and missing both. Todd Rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2021 Practicing it on the final day of camp, Aya Knudsen Rein worked a flourish into her drum solo, then smiled proudly.New York Times, 7 July 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English florisshen "to put forth flowers, bloom, grow luxuriantly, prosper, brandish (a weapon)," borrowed from Anglo-French floriss-, stem of florir, flurir "to bloom, grow abundantly, thrive," going back to Vulgar Latin *flōrīre, restructuring of Latin flōrēscere "to begin to flower, increase in vigor," inchoative derivative of flōrēre "to bloom, prosper, be at the peak of one's powers," stative verbal derivative of flōr-, flōsflower entry 1