1
as in stumbled
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 shuffled
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 floundered
But where the movie floundered, the soundtrack – co-produced by Electric Light Orchestra maestro Jeff Lynne – flourished.
—
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 15 May 2026
After Ana was caught driving without a license and deported in September, her daughter stopped eating and floundered in school.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Despite the presence of Super Bowl 59 MVP Jalen Hurts, 2024 offensive player of the year Saquon Barkley and All-Pro receiver AJ Brown, the offense floundered with Patullo at the helm.
—Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Putting them into a 4-2-3-1 system they were used to helped, after the Amorim experiment floundered.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 14 May 2026
But the deal floundered when the CBS executives would not accept anything less than 51% ownership – and control – of the channel.
—Michael J. Socolow, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
Even as Asymmetric floundered, McCann remained active in the crypto world, often posting several times a day to his more than 100,000 X followers.
—Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
In the deal’s wake, though, Saks floundered, experiencing a 16 percent drop in sales year-over-year from the quarter ending in June 30, 2025, for example.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2026
The Bucks floundered without him and the coach paid the price.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 15 May 2026
After Ana was caught driving without a license and deported in September, her daughter stopped eating and floundered in school.
—Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
Despite the presence of Super Bowl 59 MVP Jalen Hurts, 2024 offensive player of the year Saquon Barkley and All-Pro receiver AJ Brown, the offense floundered with Patullo at the helm.
—Miami Herald, 14 May 2026
Putting them into a 4-2-3-1 system they were used to helped, after the Amorim experiment floundered.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 14 May 2026
But the deal floundered when the CBS executives would not accept anything less than 51% ownership – and control – of the channel.
—Michael J. Socolow, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
Even as Asymmetric floundered, McCann remained active in the crypto world, often posting several times a day to his more than 100,000 X followers.
—Jack Kubinec, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
In the deal’s wake, though, Saks floundered, experiencing a 16 percent drop in sales year-over-year from the quarter ending in June 30, 2025, for example.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2026
The Bucks floundered without him and the coach paid the price.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for floundered
Verb
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Love Island had shifted what had previously been an unshakable self-identification and stumbled into comic profundity.—
Anna Peele,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
-
The Dodgers might have stumbled upon a way to keep Shohei Ohtani performing well on the mound and at the plate this season.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Shielded by her team, Cardi B shuffled out to the street, a blob of black nylon.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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Women in America’s boardrooms made strides as corporations shuffled their mostly White and male lineups in the face of the historic pushback in 2020.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Verb
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The promotion remains the sport’s undeniable leader, but has struggled to find a new generation of mainstream stars since Rousey and Conor McGregor in the 2010s.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
Advertisement Two more moderate candidates, state senator Sharif Street and pediatric surgeon Ala Stanford, split votes and struggled to catch fire.—
Julia Terruso,
Time,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Grgich stomped grapes at age 3.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
15 May 2026
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International researchers have officially identified Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, a massive dinosaur that has stomped its way into the record books as the largest ever found in Southeast Asia.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Floundered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floundered. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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