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
Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Dino Grandoni The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
Any major foundering in New Mexico could have long-lasting consequences.
—Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
-
Land subsidence is the sinking or collapsing of surface land due to the removal of things such as underground water, oil or gas.—
Center Square,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Rescuers found the first victim, the 12-year-old Spanish girl, three days later, floating near the northern waters of Serai island, fewer than a mile from the site of the sinking.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The soil is collapsing, leaving something resembling large puddles among the freshwater marshes.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
At the same time, a currency collapsing under international sanctions, water shortages and recurring power outages have sharpened a sense of crisis across the country.—
Roxana Saberi,
Time,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The footage shows Kim tumbling hard onto the snow and sliding across the halfpipe.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Spencer Jones blocked Joel Embiid's tip-in attempt, tumbling over Edgecombe.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rams 23, 49ers 20 Lock of the Week Much was made this week about the Bills failing to acquire a wide receiver at the trade deadline and whether that handicaps their Super Bowl chances.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
-
There was excessive growth of microtubules that wasn’t caused by an increase in gene activity, but likely due to the cells failing to clear away old or misfolded proteins.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
In the video, the mako shark bursts from the water and lands on the bow of the boat, flopping around before coming to rest near the front of the vessel.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Van Gogh, now visually fitting in with his family, then scampered about his habitat with his ears flopping along with him.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Still, Samsung in some ways is off to a stronger start with the Galaxy Z TriFold than the earliest folding smartphones.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Even worse, folding them back to flat-form following use has been difficult or impossible.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Prater was hurt in the first half of a season-ending 35-8 win over the New York Jets on Sunday in his return after missing two games.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The only thing missing from his resume is Olympic gold.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Foundering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foundering. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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