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
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
Then Arizona returns home to face floundering Oklahoma State and faces Brigham Young one week before the Cougars play their rivalry game (against Utah).
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 13 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
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
Then Arizona returns home to face floundering Oklahoma State and faces Brigham Young one week before the Cougars play their rivalry game (against Utah).
—Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 13 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
-
Maybe new additions will boost a struggling position group.—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The ever-paranoid Ally believes all of these headscratchers are part of a Trumpian conspiracy that's out to get her, but audiences were left struggling to connect the dots.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To him, the equipment staff shuffling pieces around on the field during practice is just as important as the head coach standing by.—
Christopher Kamrani,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
During the 2024 rampage, two suspects wearing masks were captured on surveillance video shuffling up a driveway and firing weapons towards the home.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ross and the unit's six other horses are responsible for helping the police handle crowd control, whether its amid the thousands stumbling through Lower Broadway or the rush of 65,000 fans entering or leaving Nissan Stadium for a Titans game.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In other words, Steve is a lot to play, and the Oscar-winner throws himself into every forlorn expression, every kindly mentoring session, every manic bit of rushing to and fro as chaos reigns around him, every stumbling step toward self-medicating into oblivion.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
The Norwegian stomping clear of a defence caught too high up the pitch.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 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 6 Oct. 2025.
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