flounder

verb

Definition of floundernext
1
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flounder Abandoning the outdoor heritage styles left Timberland floundering when the core six-inch boot customers moved on, a pattern that the brand has repeated over the past 30 years. — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 22 July 2026 But such efforts — and many other worthy grantmaker governance policies — will flounder if federal grantmakers become beholden to partisan whim rather than attached to scientific merit. — Doni Bloomfield, STAT, 21 July 2026 The Los Angeles Sparks are floundering around that midway mark. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026 An opening on the lower end would leave the tropical film floundering under the weight of its massive $250 million production budget, plus global marketing costs. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flounder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flounder
  1. stumble
  2. shuffle
  3. struggle
  4. stomp
  5. slough
Verb
  • Pochettino was hired in 2024 to right the ship after the men's team stumbled in a crucial tournament in the run-up to this summer's World Cup.
    — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Facebook stumbled out of the gate and trended lower for months before bottoming at less than half its IPO price.
    — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • The results indicated continued progress in CVS' broader turnaround plan, which has involved cutting $2 billion in costs, closing underperforming stores, shuffling leadership and reducing costs within Medicare Advantage plans.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Few heads turn despite her tall, unmistakable frame shuffling across the floor.
    — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffle
Verb
  • On the other hand, if a teenager is struggling and isn’t involved in any activities, encourage them to explore their interests as a way of making those initial connections.
    — Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • New telescopes in the $50 range are usually tiny 50- to 70-millimeter refractors that struggle with faint objects.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggle
Verb
  • Next door at CedarCreek Estate Winery, the Block 5 chardonnay and Block 4 pinot noir have their own cult following, assisted by highland cows that fertilize and stomp the vineyard soil, and a flock of free range chickens that eat the small pests.
    — Lisa Kadane, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2026
  • On that day, Simpson and other players are accused of kicking and stomping the victim and again poking him with a broomstick.
    — Joe Brandt, CBS News, 29 July 2026
Definition of stomp
Verb
  • At the same time, glycolic acid—an exfoliating ingredient—helps renew skin by sloughing off dead skin cells and improving texture for a silky-smooth finish.
    — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The leader of his country’s Socialist Party, Rama came to power in 2013, as Albania was still sloughing off its insular identity.
    — Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
Definition of slough

Browse Nearby Words

flouncing
flounder
floundered
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Cite this Entry

“Flounder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flounder. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flounder

Nglish: Translation of flounder for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flounder

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