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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foundered
The arrest came as a relief to many on campus and in the surrounding Providence community, who endured five days of fear and uncertainty as the investigation foundered with few leads.
—
Tovia Smith, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
Instead, the bipartisan talks to extend the subsidies foundered, setting the stage for a massive spike in health care premiums next year.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
That era foundered on the costly losses of multiple Mars probes.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 3 Dec. 2025
Yet this plan foundered when confronted with Ukraine’s understandable loss aversion—breaching Russian defenses would have been an exceptionally bloody endeavor—and distracting rivalries among Ukrainian commanders and political leadership.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
This is a significant year, marking 50 years since the Fitzgerald foundered in a Lake Superior storm.
—Jay Gabler, Twin Cities, 28 Oct. 2025
The stock price, which foundered since Discovery acquired WarnerMedia from AT&T in April 2022, hit a three-year high Wednesday after the company announced its formal auction process.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Tovia Smith, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
Instead, the bipartisan talks to extend the subsidies foundered, setting the stage for a massive spike in health care premiums next year.
—Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
That era foundered on the costly losses of multiple Mars probes.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 3 Dec. 2025
Yet this plan foundered when confronted with Ukraine’s understandable loss aversion—breaching Russian defenses would have been an exceptionally bloody endeavor—and distracting rivalries among Ukrainian commanders and political leadership.
—Rebecca Lissner, Foreign Affairs, 14 Nov. 2025
This is a significant year, marking 50 years since the Fitzgerald foundered in a Lake Superior storm.
—Jay Gabler, Twin Cities, 28 Oct. 2025
The stock price, which foundered since Discovery acquired WarnerMedia from AT&T in April 2022, hit a three-year high Wednesday after the company announced its formal auction process.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foundered
Verb
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The sofa was so collapsed that getting up from it felt like core strength training.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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And then on Thursday, after most of the show had been written, a man collapsed in the Oval Office, generating an instantly meme-able photograph of the president staring into the camera, looking oblivious to efforts to revive the prone victim at stage left.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The trend is not shiny, glass mosaics, but rather tumbled stone in subtle, natural colors.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
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Memory storage plays — Data storage stocks tumbled as investors continued to cash in after their recent run-up.—
Michelle Fox,Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Early experiments, like the Humane AI pin, have flopped due to high prices and poor performance.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
6 Jan. 2026
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The huge painting of the naked woman flopped on a couch?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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After that day, when I was given the book which promised to answer all of my bloody questions—my long-suffering American Girl doll went into the closet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
-
On the other sideline, Lawrence went 13-for-23 for 158 yards with one touchdown and one interception.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The French Revolution began in 1789, and tensions peaked with King Louis and Marie Antoinette’s failed escape attempt in 1791, which ultimately led to their execution in 1793.—
Elle Meier,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The Brown University shooting should be a wakeup call to college trustees and administrators, especially now that the US Department of Education will send a team of investigators to determine whether Brown failed to provide proper security before and after the shooting.—
Rick Pozniak,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As Nelson spoke, Rubio took the note back and folded it up before tucking it away.—
Greta Bjornson,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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Knitted garments are best stored folded to prevent stretching.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When one of Adam Burkhammer's foster children struggled with hyperactivity, the West Virginia legislator and his wife decided to alter their diet and remove any foods that contained synthetic dyes.—
Alan Greenblatt,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Gilgeous-Alexander -- one of only two players in the NBA averaging 30-plus points (with the Lakers’ Luka Doncic) -- struggled against the Heat’s swarming defense early, shooting 1 for 7 in a three-point first quarter and going to the half with 11.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foundered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foundered. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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