floundering 1 of 2

adjective

as in failing

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floundering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of flounder
1
as in struggling
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of floundering
Adjective
Or maybe this team just looked itself in the mirror and made the corrections that could have saved a floundering season. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
But the lack of competitive consequences for floundering clubs does very little to muffle those pushing for pro/rel. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 The opportunity to elect a Democrat has generated enthusiasm within the Utah Democratic Party in an era when sentiment for the national party is floundering. — Saige Miller, NPR, 22 June 2026 Billy Joel was floundering as a recording artist when Davis signed him in 1973. — Jason Kravarik, CNN Money, 22 June 2026 One day after optioning struggling rookie Andrew Painter to Triple-A, the Phillies are sending down another floundering pitcher. — Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 18 June 2026 In 2020, when many saw in Joe Biden a floundering candidate, a loose coalition of black women activists saw an opportunity. — Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026 The comedian admits floundering in his mid-20s and winding up behind bars. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026 Before Tan took over as CEO in March 2025 , the foundry business was floundering, trying to do many things at once. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 3 June 2026 Its economy has been floundering. — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floundering
  1. failing
  2. struggling
  3. shuffling
  4. dying
  5. stumbling
  6. stomping
  7. languishing
  8. declining
Adjective
  • The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
    — Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Jan. 2026
Definition of failing
Verb
  • Trump taking the country to war with Iran, in part at the urging of his pal Bibi — without any sensible plan, debate, sanction from Congress or consideration as to how this might hurt Americans already struggling to make ends meet.
    — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • The rules were altered in 2004 at the urging of Algeria, which was struggling to field a competitive national team with wholly domestic players and saw dozens of better prospects from the diaspora living in France.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
Definition of struggling
Verb
  • Getty Images The Toronto Blue Jays have been struggling with injuries across the roster this season, shuffling the big-league roster and the lower levels of the organization as a result.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The administration dissolved the CDC's Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, shuffling staffers to other divisions and interrupting work on the disease.
    — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of shuffling
Adjective
  • What’s the vibe for you, post-dying?
    — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of dying
Verb
  • Australia’s online platforms are stumbling at the very first step in implementing age checks for users, rendering a world-first teen social media ban ineffective, a study by a team that advised the government’s rollout of the curbs found.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 7 July 2026
  • Which is why Rhaenyra stumbling during her first days on the job really sucks as a Team Black truther.
    — The Editors, Vulture, 3 July 2026
Definition of stumbling
Verb
  • The name Chelydra serpentina evokes colossal reptiles stomping through ancient forests.
    — Hannah Smith July 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026
  • That feeling solidified during their solo date, which included stomping grapes, exploring a winery and making a promise to open a special bottle of wine together one year later.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Definition of stomping
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of languishing
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
Definition of declining

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Cite this Entry

“Floundering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floundering. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of floundering for Spanish Speakers

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