Synonyms of foundered

foundered

verb

past tense of founder

1

as in collapsed

to be unsuccessful

the theater company foundered after its corporate funding dried up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapsed
• flopped
• failed
• folded
• struggled
• missed
• bombed
• tanked
• flunked
• struck out
• cratered
• fell flat
• fell short
• came up empty
• laid an egg
• floundered
• came to grief
• came a cropper
• crashed
• flamed out
• declined
• washed out
• died on the vine
• slipped
• waned
• fell on one's face
• crumbled
• skidded
• slumped
• sank
• misfired
• miscarried
• imploded
• went under
• self-destructed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• succeeded
• went
• delivered
• worked out
• went over
• clicked
• came off
• flourished
• prospered
• thrived
• cooked
• prevailed
• won
• triumphed
• panned out

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

• collapsed
• tumbled
• went
• crumpled
• died
• yielded
• buckled
• shattered
• went out
• crumbled
• gave
• melted
• imploded
• crashed
• gave way
• failed
• stalled
• broke
• flattened
• caved (in)
• smashed
• snapped
• cracked
• popped
• deflated
• splintered
• burst
• split
• gave out
• broke down
• melted down
• conked (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rose
• swelled
• inflated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of foundered

These initiatives foundered from a lack of urgency and a reluctance among European countries to antagonize China, which is one of their largest trading partners. — Theodore Bunzel, Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2026

But the world was deprived of this Minimalist presentation of Little Richard when the project foundered at the end of the decade amid financial obstacles and the difficulties of coordinating its all-star cast. — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

As its civil lawsuits foundered, the Justice Department reached for another weapon to compel obedience from state election officers. — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026

The bill foundered in large part over a provision that would have allowed companies to pay interest on stablecoins. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

But these initial efforts largely foundered, failing to establish sufficient trading interest or a deep retail market, in part due to competition from already-liquid options markets. — Bruce Blythe, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026

Even before this high-profile addition to his staff, Chesney was already building early momentum in his significant rebuilding project at a program that has foundered over the past decade. — Greg Beacham, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Previous attempts to reach an agreement have foundered amid mutual suspicion and each side's insistence that the other must move first. — Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA Today, 31 July 2026

On screen, some of our best artists have foundered in translation. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026