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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flounder
The nonprofit status quo has been floundering and must evolve.
—
Brianna Kamienski, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
The Warriors have been floundering in the Western Conference of late after a very solid start to the season.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
In 1977, she was brought onto General Hospital as the series’ ratings were floundering, replacing Patsy Rahn, who had debuted as Monica Bard Webber (later Monica Quartermaine) a year earlier.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
So there was a period there from about 1970 to ’79 where the studio executives were floundering.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flounder
Brianna Kamienski, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025
The Warriors have been floundering in the Western Conference of late after a very solid start to the season.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
In 1977, she was brought onto General Hospital as the series’ ratings were floundering, replacing Patsy Rahn, who had debuted as Monica Bard Webber (later Monica Quartermaine) a year earlier.
—Victoria Edel, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
So there was a period there from about 1970 to ’79 where the studio executives were floundering.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for flounder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flounder
Verb
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However, the Indian stock market has stumbled recently, with the BSE 500 shedding 19% from its recent peak last September—this after climbing 14.8% in 2024 and 25.1% in 2023.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Those concerns came to a head during Biden's debate against now-President Donald Trump in June, when Biden sounded hoarse and appeared to stumble through several answers.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Sharks shuffled their lines before the start of the third period.—
Curtis Pashelka,
The Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2025
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At the glitzy afterparty, stars shuffled through a packed room.—
Jay Stahl,
USA TODAY,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, Courtney Eaton is still struggling to accept Lottie’s fate while playing the character’s teen counterpart in the ’90s wilderness.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
28 Feb. 2025
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Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman,wife Betsy Arakawa, found dead in their home Gene Hackman's health struggles: What is angina?—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Warren’s deep, husky voice frees himself from the blame of an unhealthy relationship over a stomping piano beat.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
21 Jan. 2025
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Boston stomped the competition last season en route to winning their record 18th NBA championship.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
1 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The crumbling Victorian to our left, devoured by weeds and sloughing off shingles, looked like something out of a Hitchcock movie.—
airmail.news,
airmail.news,
17 Aug. 2024
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Don’t wait for late-arriving Easter to fire the starting gun for spring: April 1 is a good excuse to slough off the doldrums of winter and start exploring again.—
Mark Ellwood,
AFAR Media,
7 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flounder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flounder. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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