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
-
Apart from buying struggling retailers, Barnes & Noble has expanded its physical footprint.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Despite the additional funding, the Advocate pointed out that some TAC offices were already struggling—as of April 15, 2025, 239 were understaffed and 21 were unstaffed.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In it, a monster with bolts in his head and a shuffling gate was created by a man.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
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The closures have resulted in staff shuffling throughout the library system and rescheduled activities such as author talks and photography exhibits.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The episode ends with a surreal, graphic deepfake scene of a totally nude Donald Trump stumbling around a desert.—
Nick Marx,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
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Inside the agency, Dudek, ill-prepared for leadership or for DOGE’s murky agenda, was stumbling through the chaos in part by creating some of his own.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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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 16 Sep. 2025.
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