1
as in stumbled
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number
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2
as in shuffled
to move heavily or clumsily
the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck
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Recent Examples of floundered
Critics on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes rated Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 90% and 93% respectively but 2007's Spider-Man 3 floundered, scoring just 63%.
—
Caroline Reid, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
But if Carter hadn’t also believed and trusted in Davis, the national 55 mph speed limit effort might have floundered and eventually failed.
—Doug Melville, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead, the Titans floundered to a 3-11 record, and Levis was benched.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
While Henry has helped make the Ravens one of the top teams in the AFC, Tennessee has floundered to a 3-9 record in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Conversely, Perez floundered and currently trails his teammate by 251 points, the biggest gap of any of the top four teams.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
But even as the Niners floundered for years following Harbaugh’s exit, at least Niners fans didn’t have to reckon with him coaching another NFL team.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024
While Dillingham's career soared in the following years, developing a reputation as a quarterback whisperer, Sims floundered.
—Matthew Self, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024
This is where public-health initiatives have often floundered, including with guns.
—Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
Caroline Reid, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
But if Carter hadn’t also believed and trusted in Davis, the national 55 mph speed limit effort might have floundered and eventually failed.
—Doug Melville, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead, the Titans floundered to a 3-11 record, and Levis was benched.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
While Henry has helped make the Ravens one of the top teams in the AFC, Tennessee has floundered to a 3-9 record in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Conversely, Perez floundered and currently trails his teammate by 251 points, the biggest gap of any of the top four teams.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024
But even as the Niners floundered for years following Harbaugh’s exit, at least Niners fans didn’t have to reckon with him coaching another NFL team.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024
While Dillingham's career soared in the following years, developing a reputation as a quarterback whisperer, Sims floundered.
—Matthew Self, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024
This is where public-health initiatives have often floundered, including with guns.
—Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near floundered
Cite this Entry
“Floundered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floundered. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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