1
as in to stumble
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shuffle
to move heavily or clumsily
the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flounder
While many people are asking whether the housing market is going to continue to flounder, the data is starting to show signs that the current malaise may be nearing a rebound.
—
Chris Gunster, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks, 51-55, have already started selling, and the floundering St. Louis Cardinals have gone 3-7 since the break and could begin selling off their assets.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 28 July 2025
However, your new role needn’t leave you floundering.
—Anne Sugar, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Interim leaders can flounder without clear expectations and support, leaving organizations worse off.
—Rhett Power, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flounder
Chris Gunster, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The Arizona Diamondbacks, 51-55, have already started selling, and the floundering St. Louis Cardinals have gone 3-7 since the break and could begin selling off their assets.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 28 July 2025
However, your new role needn’t leave you floundering.
—Anne Sugar, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Interim leaders can flounder without clear expectations and support, leaving organizations worse off.
—Rhett Power, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for flounder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flounder
Verb
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Stellantis has also stumbled in its EV transition, posting a €2.3 billion net loss in the first half of 2025 as operating margins shrank to just 0.7%.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
26 Aug. 2025
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Especially underwhelming was an offense that was advertised as explosive but often sputtered and stumbled.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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On Wednesday Ahn slowly shuffled to a bridge leading to the Korean Peninsula’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), pleading for permission to cross the zone – one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world – and enter North Korea.—
Gawon Bae,
CNN Money,
20 Aug. 2025
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My shortlist of 50 wouldn’t have shuffled Braid, Celeste, or Terraria to this section, but, y’know, different strokes.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Most entrepreneurs struggle to differentiate themselves and attract their target audience.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
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Howie Mandel struggled to hear above the din created by the studio audience.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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At that event, Claudio Castagnoli stomped Ospreay's head through a steel chair.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
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The Wildcats won five in a row against the Cardinals before getting stomped 41-14 last year in Lexington.—
Marc Weiszer,
The Tennessean,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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These pre-soaked exfoliating pads gently slough the top layer of skin to reveal a brighter, smoother complexion, thanks to a 10% dose of a glycolic acid complex.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
4 Aug. 2025
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The disease causes the soft tissue in the corals to slough off, leaving behind white patches of exposed skeleton.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flounder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flounder. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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