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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flounder
As staffers await new leadership, projects have floundered, many in a holding pattern awaiting funding.
—
Erika Edwards, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
The Panthers have largely floundered since moving from the Big East to the ACC in 2013.
—CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Trump reportedly sent her to help Ron DeSantis' floundering gubernatorial campaign.
—Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 16 Mar. 2026
At her home on Vancouver Island, the Canadian-American actor spends her days scanning the chop for whales, not floundering swimmers.
—Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flounder
Erika Edwards, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
The Panthers have largely floundered since moving from the Big East to the ACC in 2013.
—CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Trump reportedly sent her to help Ron DeSantis' floundering gubernatorial campaign.
—Doris Alvarez Cea, Florida Times-Union, 16 Mar. 2026
At her home on Vancouver Island, the Canadian-American actor spends her days scanning the chop for whales, not floundering swimmers.
—Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for flounder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flounder
Verb
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The show follows Nicky (Levy) and Morgan Dardano (Taylor Ortega), a pastor-and-teacher sibling duo from New Jersey who stumble into organized crime after Morgan steals a necklace from a postal store to bury with their dying grandmother.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2026
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When a character speaks English, an accent is employed and the manner is often a bit stumbling.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With Estévez out, the Royals had to shuffle the bullpen.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
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Of course, no rotation shuffling is imminent with Rodón expected to make at least three rehab starts and Cole moving at a slower pace following Tommy John surgery.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Niners have struggled with consistency from their wide receivers, largely due to injuries.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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The plant, which was the state’s largest maker of panelized components, struggled under the weight of reduced demand because of higher interest rates and fluctuating lumber costs.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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New surveillance video from inside a Brooklyn liquor store shows another angle of the rough mistaken identity arrest that ignited a firestorm of criticism, offering a different angle as one of the detectives appears to stomp the prone suspect.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
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According to a transcript of Morales’ preliminary hearing, Morales allegedly stomped on Pulido’s head three to four dozen times, punched him in the head, slammed his head, and then heel stomped his head 20 more times.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lactic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid, which gently sloughs away dead skin cells to reveal softer, smoother skin.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
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Gentle exfoliation is key to sloughing off winter buildup and revealing fresh, radiant skin.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flounder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flounder. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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