1
as in stumbled
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 shuffled
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 floundered
That decline has done little to boost a Labour government that has floundered since winning election in July 2024.
—
ABC News, 11 June 2026
Harris didn’t add a bat, and the offense floundered in August and September.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The three-time batting champion has thrived in areas where the Padres have floundered.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
That mission has floundered in recent weeks with the departure of politicians who were key to the coalition agreement.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 29 May 2026
The Broncos faltered in the snow, the Nuggets floundered on the hardwood, and now the Avalanche fail on ice.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
But his solo career has floundered.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 May 2026
But where the movie floundered, the soundtrack – co-produced by Electric Light Orchestra maestro Jeff Lynne – flourished.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 15 May 2026
After Ana was caught driving without a license and deported in September, her daughter stopped eating and floundered in school.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
ABC News, 11 June 2026
Harris didn’t add a bat, and the offense floundered in August and September.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The three-time batting champion has thrived in areas where the Padres have floundered.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026
That mission has floundered in recent weeks with the departure of politicians who were key to the coalition agreement.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 29 May 2026
The Broncos faltered in the snow, the Nuggets floundered on the hardwood, and now the Avalanche fail on ice.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
But his solo career has floundered.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 29 May 2026
But where the movie floundered, the soundtrack – co-produced by Electric Light Orchestra maestro Jeff Lynne – flourished.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 15 May 2026
After Ana was caught driving without a license and deported in September, her daughter stopped eating and floundered in school.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floundered
Verb
-
Because the 59-year-old MAGA actor has stumbled into a debate that’s been vexing DC fans for more than six decades.—
Benjamin Svetkey,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
-
The memorial effort dragged for years as the private onePulse Foundation, originally tasked to create it, stumbled and then collapsed amid excessive ambition that produced a plan for a $100 million memorial and museum the group had no ability to fund.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Verb
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In the years that followed, American landscape painting was shuffled off to storage to make room for modernism, and paintings like Church’s, with their glassy finishes and profuse detail, came to seem the embodiment of fuddy-duddy.—
Susan Tallman,
The Atlantic,
13 June 2026
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The singer-songwriter shuffled songs on her phone, not having any idea what might pop up.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Once her shots started to fall, the Sparks struggled to contain her.—
Jordan Puente,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
The group struggled to find relevance in the aftermath of Kath’s death, largely thanks to shifting musical tastes.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
On Monday night, a 39-year-old man wearing a Spurs jersey was stomped and punched after Game 3 while walking down West 47th Street, about 15 blocks from the arena.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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It's been 33 years since Jurassic Park first stomped into theaters, and blockbusters haven't been the same since.—
Huntley Woods,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floundered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floundered. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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