as in failing
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1
as in struggling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shuffling
to move heavily or clumsily
the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of floundering
Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Across town, rival USC is young and floundering without star guard JuJu Watkins, out for the season recovering from a torn ACL.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 19 Jan. 2026
Spurs appear riddled with dysfunction from top to bottom and are floundering in lower mid-table in the Premier League, with an unbalanced and underwhelming squad.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Stephen Ross, the Miami Dolphins’ majority owner since 2009, is now looking for his eighth different head coach in a parade of floundering, flailing and failing.
—Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
After the crash, the driver can be seen floundering in the pool after being ejected from her vehicle.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
In the meantime, Carolina botched an opportunity against Seattle to clinch the South on Sunday while Tampa Bay was busy floundering its way to a loss against Miami.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025
The team has a Week 17 road clash with the Chargers before hosting the floundering Colts in Week 18.
—Patrick Sung, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
Russian automotive, aviation, and semiconductor manufacturing capabilities are all floundering—just like the rest of the Russian economy.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
The Mavericks were winners of two consecutive games over the floundering Utah Jazz.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 20 Jan. 2026
Across town, rival USC is young and floundering without star guard JuJu Watkins, out for the season recovering from a torn ACL.
—Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 19 Jan. 2026
Spurs appear riddled with dysfunction from top to bottom and are floundering in lower mid-table in the Premier League, with an unbalanced and underwhelming squad.
—The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Stephen Ross, the Miami Dolphins’ majority owner since 2009, is now looking for his eighth different head coach in a parade of floundering, flailing and failing.
—Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
After the crash, the driver can be seen floundering in the pool after being ejected from her vehicle.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
In the meantime, Carolina botched an opportunity against Seattle to clinch the South on Sunday while Tampa Bay was busy floundering its way to a loss against Miami.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 29 Dec. 2025
The team has a Week 17 road clash with the Chargers before hosting the floundering Colts in Week 18.
—Patrick Sung, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
Russian automotive, aviation, and semiconductor manufacturing capabilities are all floundering—just like the rest of the Russian economy.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floundering
Verb
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However, the technology has been moving faster than state regulations can accommodate, and lawmakers have been struggling to walk the line between innovation and patient safety.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
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And, for many borrowers struggling with debt, exploring alternatives like debt settlement or consolidation may offer significant relief without the complications that bankruptcy rules can create.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Go on a street food tour Street food tours are great things to do in Sicily and a fabulous alternative to hours of shuffling through museums.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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It's designed to offer a satisfying and calming shuffling motion, guided by a strong magnet and a seamless sliding track on the inside.—
Abhimanyu Ghoshal,
New Atlas,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Whether Allen was in the process of turning and running away or stumbling in a chaotic scene in a wobbly subway car was unclear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
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After stumbling out to a 13-15 start this season, the Warriors went 12-4 over the past month to rise to eighth in the Western Conference.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Han will be posted up by the Milennium Falcon and/or Oga’s Cantina, Luke will be stomping his Chanel boots in the marketplace, and Darth Vader will be force-choking dads in Grumpy tees.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
14 Jan. 2026
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Then there’s the people watching, from the tailgating to the communal divot stomping, full of dramatic sun dresses and hats with flourishes, seersucker suits and, yes, hats with flourishes.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The skyway corridors with highest density sit directly atop the most languishing streetscapes, Spencer said, and vice versa.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
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 27 Jan. 2026.
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