1
as in collapsing
to be unsuccessful
the theater company foundered after its corporate funding dried up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tumbling
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of foundering
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Any major foundering in New Mexico could have long-lasting consequences.
—Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Dinosaurs were flourishing, not foundering, as kings of the Cretaceous right up until the end, according to the new study.
—Dino Grandoni The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
The process, known as lithospheric foundering, resembles a geological process on Earth in which portions of the planet's outermost layer sink into the mantle.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Any major foundering in New Mexico could have long-lasting consequences.
—Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
These artifacts, like the late 20th- and early 21st-century shipwrecks rusting in Caicos Banks, were monuments to the foundering dreams of successive generations, who tried and failed to make the land pay.
—Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
Dinosaurs were flourishing, not foundering, as kings of the Cretaceous right up until the end, according to the new study.
—Dino Grandoni The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foundering
Noun
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The cause of the ferry sinking was not immediately clear and there will be an investigation, Dua said.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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In some simulations, the sinking began after 1 to 3 million years and reached the base of the shell after 5 to 10 million years.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Already too much of Havana – a once beautiful city now littered with debris from buildings collapsing under years of neglect – looks like a war zone.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
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The demonstrations began in late December in response to the collapsing value of the national currency -- the rial -- before morphing into a wider anti-regime movement which drew backing from dissidents abroad and Western governments.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Matas Buzelis threw a ball off James while tumbling out of bounds on defense for a change of possession.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The shocking recording shows the front passenger door of a black SUV opening and a tiny body tumbling out and skidding along the asphalt as the vehicle makes an eastbound turn onto West Malvern Avenue from North Euclid Street in Fullerton.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Earlier this month, McIntyre, who’d been feuding with Fatu prior to Fatu’s TV absence, finally toppled Rhodes after previously failing to do so multiple occasions.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Prior to Gonzales’ trial, Eiglarsh told CNN there was a wide gap between an officer failing to follow proper protocol and acting criminally.—
Elise Hammond,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Stiller’s character attempts to match the athletic feat in a heated rage by climbing high and belly-flopping right onto a drum kit as the music powers on.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
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Perspectives 🏁 The viral video of a Kansas referee seemingly flopping during a high school girl’s basketball game is a bad look.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
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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Vertical file folding for towels and clothes maximizes space and keeps drawers looking tidy longer.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
26 Jan. 2026
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Graduates wear full-length gowns over dress clothes and sit in folding chairs on the field.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For these groups, missing doses can have life-altering consequences.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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What remains missing is a full economic and social impact study, released publicly for review and comment.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foundering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foundering. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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