1
as in struggling
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 shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily
the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in failing
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of floundering
Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Domestic competitors were interested in acquiring the floundering manufacturing unit.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
In The Studio, Matt Remick (Rogen) is appointed CEO of the floundering Continental Studios, trying to balance his dreams of making great films with the harsh realities of an increasingly IP and AI-driven industry that prioritizes profit over quality.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Volpe is once again floundering at the plate after a brief hot streak post-All-Star Game.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Google Assistant is also floundering, with many users complaining about broken features.
—PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
That means a ceasefire is still possible though talks have been floundering and conflict still rages.
—USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
That indecision is really clear when Christian tours the studio, and finds Jesus’ team hard at work on a variety of interesting silhouettes and Ethan’s team floundering.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
The surprising exception is that the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other Western countries are floundering.
—Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Domestic competitors were interested in acquiring the floundering manufacturing unit.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 29 Aug. 2025
In The Studio, Matt Remick (Rogen) is appointed CEO of the floundering Continental Studios, trying to balance his dreams of making great films with the harsh realities of an increasingly IP and AI-driven industry that prioritizes profit over quality.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Volpe is once again floundering at the plate after a brief hot streak post-All-Star Game.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Aug. 2025
Google Assistant is also floundering, with many users complaining about broken features.
—PC Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
That means a ceasefire is still possible though talks have been floundering and conflict still rages.
—USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
That indecision is really clear when Christian tours the studio, and finds Jesus’ team hard at work on a variety of interesting silhouettes and Ethan’s team floundering.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floundering
Verb
-
Even with Muchová so clearly struggling, Osaka faced some weird jeopardy down the stretch.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
-
However, even people who have these more 'substantial' degrees are struggling.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The three actors were filming a lighthearted scene, shuffling excitedly between a hot sauna and cold plunge, when Reeves’ foot caught on some flooring.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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The film essentially takes place entirely within an under-20-minute timeline, showing the same events from a shuffling deck of points of view.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His arrival home each night is announced by his sputtering motorcycle and his drunken stumbling up the stairs.—
Adam Solomons,
IndieWire,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Whew The last thing a team wants to see is its starting quarterback stumbling to the sideline four plays into the season.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Cena’s chrome-domed antihero, Freddie Stroma’s Vigilante and and Danielle Brooks’ Adebayo stomping through spots of light.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
21 Aug. 2025
-
No velvet rope, no fourth wall—just boot-stomping, beer-sign neon and crowd-absorption tech.—
Bob Bonniol,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.—
Tom MacCubbin,
orlandosentinel.com,
6 Mar. 2021
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In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
15 May 2020
Cite this Entry
“Floundering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floundering. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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