flounder

1 of 2

noun

floun·​der ˈflau̇n-dər 

plural flounder or flounders

: flatfish

especially : any of various marine fishes (families Pleuronectidae, Paralichthyidae, and Bothidae) that include important food fishes

flounder

2 of 2

verb

floundered; floundering ˈflau̇n-d(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to struggle to move or obtain footing : thrash about wildly

The poor horse was floundering in the mud.

2

: to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

the normally surefooted governor floundered a moment like a prize pupil caught unprepared

—Time

Did you know?

Flounder is a relatively common verb that current evidence dates to the late 16th century, when it was likely born by means of an alteration of an older verb, founder. The two have been confused ever since. Today, founder is most often used as a synonym of fail, or, in the case of a waterborne vessel, as a word meaning "to fill with water and sink." Formerly, it was also frequently applied when a horse stumbled badly and was unable to keep walking. It's likely this sense of founder led to the original and now-obsolete meaning of flounder: "to stumble." In modern use, flounder typically means "to struggle" or "to act clumsily"; the word lacks the finality of founder, which usually denotes complete collapse or failure, as that of a sunken ship.

Synonyms

Verb

• blunder
• bumble
• flog [British]
• limp
• lumber
• plod
• struggle
• stumble
• trudge

Examples of flounder in a Sentence

Verb

The horses were floundering through the deep snow.

He was floundering around in the pool like an amateur.

After watching me flounder for a few minutes, my instructor took over.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the first two episodes of the show’s third season, Lumi flounders after going public, while Harry Lawtey’s Robert tries and fails to manage Henry’s ego. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2024

In the immediate aftermath of both the Kursk incursion and Prigozhin’s mutiny, Russian state television, used to being directed from above, was left to flounder. —Peter Pomerantsev, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2024

Verb

Even the author herself has floundered when she’s tried to update her style for the 21st century. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2024

After the military seized power in a coup in 1962, Myanmar became internationally isolated, its economy floundered, and insurgencies grew—which ultimately resulted in the resignation of military leader Ne Win in 1988. —Koh Ewe, TIME, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian flundra flounder

Verb

probably alteration of founder

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing flounder

• summer flounder
• winter flounder
• yellowtail flounder

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Kids Definition

flounder

1 of 2 noun

floun·​der ˈflau̇n-dər 

plural flounder or flounders

: flatfish

especially : any of various important marine food fishes

flounder

2 of 2 verb

floundered; floundering -d(ə-)riŋ 

: to struggle or go clumsily

floundering through the deep snow

Etymology

Noun

Middle English flounder "a flatfish"; of Scandinavian origin

Verb

probably an altered form of founder