Synonyms of flounder

flounder

verb

1

as in to stumble

to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stumble
• struggle
• limp
• blunder
• trudge
• shuffle
• lurch
• fumble
• plod
• falter
• lumber
• reel
• jog
• bumble
• flog
• sway
• wallow
• shamble
• stagger
• muddle
• totter
• welter
• teeter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• coast
• fly
• sail
• glide
• zip
• zoom
• kilt

2

as in to shuffle

to move heavily or clumsily

the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stumble
• shuffle
• stomp
• slough
• lurch
• lump
• barge
• clump
• trudge
• shamble
• weave
• drag
• stump
• pound
• stamp
• haul
• scuffle
• plod
• tramp
• galumph
• scuff
• lumber
• stagger
• flop
• slog
• flog
• reel
• sway
• tromp
• waddle
• blunder
• totter
• careen
• wobble
• teeter
• dodder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• coast
• slide
• breeze
• glide
• drift
• float
• hang
• whisk
• waltz
• hover
• waft
• poise

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of flounder

The unrest has fired the starting gun on what promises to be a vicious race between the far right and far left for the presidency, with much of the center floundering in the polls. — Melissa Bell, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026

These teams typically floundered on and off the ice, draining the revenue-sharing pool and rarely fielding Stanley Cup contenders. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 29 Sep. 2026

And yet when Winston took over for Dart in Monday’s first quarter, and as the Giants’ offense floundered while falling behind big, Beckham was nailed to the bench. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026

The tech giants surged to all-time highs this week, a surprising show of strength given that the group has floundered for much of this year with the artificial intelligence trade broadening away from megacaps. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

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