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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of floundering
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Maryland is still undefeated, but the best win was at floundering Wisconsin.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
While the Gators are floundering at 1-3, Texas is 3-1.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News, 1 Oct. 2025
Another game, another plane flying above Hard Rock Stadium to express Miami Dolphins fans’ displeasure with the floundering franchise.
—David Wilson, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
Alexis Ohanian realized early on that traditional approaches to generating buzz were floundering in the digital age.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
After that, the team will have its bye week before hosting the floundering Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
And there were many others in the floundering nation-states of Asia and Africa who succumbed to the American ideology of individual aggrandizement and self-cherishing.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
In the digital era, flourishing or floundering often has a lot to do with the impact of technology and social media.
—Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
In a battle for NFC supremacy, Tampa Bay exerted its dominance while the Niners’ season — which looked so promising last Thursday — appears to be in total flux following the likely season-ending injury to Fred Warner and San Francisco’s floundering performance.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
Maryland is still undefeated, but the best win was at floundering Wisconsin.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
While the Gators are floundering at 1-3, Texas is 3-1.
—Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News, 1 Oct. 2025
Another game, another plane flying above Hard Rock Stadium to express Miami Dolphins fans’ displeasure with the floundering franchise.
—David Wilson, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
Alexis Ohanian realized early on that traditional approaches to generating buzz were floundering in the digital age.
—Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
After that, the team will have its bye week before hosting the floundering Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
And there were many others in the floundering nation-states of Asia and Africa who succumbed to the American ideology of individual aggrandizement and self-cherishing.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
In the digital era, flourishing or floundering often has a lot to do with the impact of technology and social media.
—Robert B. Tucker, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floundering
Verb
-
That was punctuated by the incident in Dubai, which Raducanu said left her struggling to breathe properly in the immediate aftermath.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The film follows Malik (Omar Epps), a gifted athlete struggling academically; Kristen (Kristy Swanson), a young woman discovering her voice; and Remy (Michael Rapaport), a student whose isolation turns dangerous.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Jaguars are shuffling corners.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Eliminate middle schools Known as Option G, the proposal essentially eliminates middle schools by moving sixth grade to elementary schools and shuffling seventh and eighth grades to the high schools.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Footage of a father stumbling around, apparently carrying the headless body of his baby?—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Remaining unclaimed playoff spots The final two playoff spots in the Western Conference are up for grabs, with FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes all stumbling towards the finish line.—
Tom Bogert,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Barner holds his arms parallel to the ground and swings them side to side while slowly stomping forward like Godzilla demolishing a city.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Maura is marvelous stomping around the apartment in a cold fury and refusing to speak to Clara, who proceeds regardless with broker negotiations and brings in antiques dealer Abslam (Ahmed Boulane) to buy up the contents.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 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
-
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 19 Oct. 2025.
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