1
as in collapsed
to be unsuccessful
the theater company foundered after its corporate funding dried up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tumbled
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the twin towers started to sway and suddenly foundered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of foundered
But the president didn’t make clear why a federal takeover of a small airline that has foundered for years would be an efficient use of capital or benefit American taxpayers.
—
Editorial, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Although in the commercial world, many print publications have foundered, data indicate that for alumni magazines, print remains powerful.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Authentic specializes in acquiring and investing in famous retail properties that have foundered.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
The site contains remains from multiple vessels, suggesting a history of merchant ships that likely foundered in the same treacherous area while approaching the shore.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
Courts have interpreted Section 230 immunity broadly, and many earlier attempts to hold platforms accountable for child harm have foundered on it.
—Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
The Eagles entered the 2025 season with a top-tier roster and foundered with an insufficient offensive system.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The kid who gets straight A’s through high school may struggle more in college than the one who foundered in ninth grade, figured out what went wrong, and then kept going.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
But past negotiations foundered on less ambitious demands.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
Editorial, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Although in the commercial world, many print publications have foundered, data indicate that for alumni magazines, print remains powerful.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Authentic specializes in acquiring and investing in famous retail properties that have foundered.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
The site contains remains from multiple vessels, suggesting a history of merchant ships that likely foundered in the same treacherous area while approaching the shore.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 28 Mar. 2026
Courts have interpreted Section 230 immunity broadly, and many earlier attempts to hold platforms accountable for child harm have foundered on it.
—Carolina Rossini, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
The Eagles entered the 2025 season with a top-tier roster and foundered with an insufficient offensive system.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The kid who gets straight A’s through high school may struggle more in college than the one who foundered in ninth grade, figured out what went wrong, and then kept going.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2026
But past negotiations foundered on less ambitious demands.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foundered
Verb
-
Funded by the National Science Foundation, the film investigates evidence that Greenland’s ice sheet collapsed in the past and asks what that reveals about the planet’s future.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
-
Crucially, the study found that a major sanctuary called Amyklai remained active after the palace collapsed, and later became important to both Spartans and Lakedaimonians.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Highflying names such as Nvidia and Broadcom slid as server maker Super Micro Computer tumbled 28% on a $7-billion stock sale plan, stoking fresh worries about an AI-fueled bubble.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
Anglogold Ashanti tumbled nearly 6%, while Harmony Gold Mining fell more than 2% and Gold Fields lost more than 4%.—
Scott Schnipper,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The willingness to protect meaning over volume is precisely what has made the brand more culturally relevant than numerous others that came up alongside it and flopped.—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
His first attempt, a dystopian fantasy, had flopped.—
Nathan Heller,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Muncy’s helmet and glasses went flying.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
-
Gutierrez, meanwhile, went 3-for-3 and scored twice for the Mustangs, who have won three playoff games by a 41-2 count.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Nursing home operators argued the state failed to properly account for the medical complexity of residents when calculating those payments, reducing reimbursement for facilities caring for some of the sickest patients.—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 2026
-
Towns called it a collective joy when the Spurs failed to score on the final possession.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The vehicle has 78 cubic feet of storage space when the rear seats are folded, 44 cubic feet when just the back row is folded, and 15 cubic feet when all seats are in use.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
10 June 2026
-
Paul Turnley was presented with a British flag folded into a triangle given by the military in honor of the sacrifice of his relation, Pvt.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Jalen Brunson has 19 points to lead New York, but the Knicks have struggled to avoid fouls on defense and struggled to make foul shots on the other end.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
-
Rushing out onto the beach, George struggled to comprehend what had happened.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foundered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foundered. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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