flounder

²flounder

verb

floun·deredfloun·der·ing\-d(ə-)riŋ\

Definition of FLOUNDER

intransitive verb

1

: to struggle to move or obtain footing : thrash about wildly

2

: to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

Examples of FLOUNDER

1. The horses were floundering through the deep snow.
2. He was floundering around in the pool like an amateur.
3. After watching me flounder for a few minutes, my instructor took over.

Origin of FLOUNDER

probably alteration of founder

First Known Use: 1592

Related to FLOUNDER

Synonyms: blunder, bumble, flog [British], limp, lumber, plod, struggle, stumble, trudge

Antonyms: breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk

Related Words: jog, shamble, shuffle; wallow, welter; falter, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter; fumble, muddle

Near Antonyms: coast, fly, glide, kilt, sail, zip, zoom

see all synonyms and antonyms

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