1
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of flounder
Javier Báez played impeccable shortstop, even redirected a throw from left in the fifth to nab Pete Crow-Armstrong, who ran past the base at third on a late stop sign, then was called out floundering back to the bag.
—
Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Investors are hoping features on the latest iPhone models will be exciting enough to kickstart a new cycle of iPhone sales, a potential boon for a stock that has floundered this year.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Some five years on, the way the talks floundered and then failed can offer lessons about the challenges today’s would-be mediators now face.
—Anna Batta, The Conversation, 2 June 2025
The Wave hired an interim coach (and then another one), changed their offense and floundered to the worst season in the franchise’s young history.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flounder
Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 7 June 2025
Investors are hoping features on the latest iPhone models will be exciting enough to kickstart a new cycle of iPhone sales, a potential boon for a stock that has floundered this year.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Some five years on, the way the talks floundered and then failed can offer lessons about the challenges today’s would-be mediators now face.
—Anna Batta, The Conversation, 2 June 2025
The Wave hired an interim coach (and then another one), changed their offense and floundered to the worst season in the franchise’s young history.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for flounder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flounder
Verb
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After seven years of searching the West for the perfect place to call home, Northern California author and wellness practitioner Osha Reader stumbled upon her peaceful High Sierra retreat by chance.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
28 June 2025
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Astronomers studying a distant galaxy cluster stumbled upon ancient radio signals that might hold clues to the formation of the early universe.—
Nick Butler,
FOXNews.com,
28 June 2025
Verb
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Nicolo Barella would often drop between Stefan de Vrij and right centre-back Matteo Darmian or pull wide outside of Urawa’s defensive block to kickstart Inter’s possession, meaning the Japanese side were comfortable shuffling from side to side with the game in front of them.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
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The latest major example of this reliable horror subgenre shuffling (or in this case running) into theaters is 28 Years Later.—
James Grebey,
Time,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Now, with no practical skills to speak of, the newly unemployed Grant struggled to find work.—
Casey Cep,
New Yorker,
28 June 2025
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Though several Democrats are starting to make moves toward 2028, liberals have struggled with the lack of a main character to match Trump's political moxie the way then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi did in his first term.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
Verb
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The dinos will stomp back into theaters just in time to set off major fireworks at the Fourth of July holiday, or at least that’s the hope.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2025
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To close out the show, Megan stomped down the catwalk in the Dipped in Gold One-Piece from her swimwear collection, made in collaboration with Walmart.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Physical rice and sugar exfoliants along with papaya enzymes help to target and slough away dead skin cells, while green coffee oil helps to brighten skin.—
Kayla Greaves,
Essence,
23 June 2025
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Furthermore, the runway was lacking grooves to slough off rainwater.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flounder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flounder. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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