flounder

¹ American  

[floun-der] / ˈflaʊn dər /

verb (used without object)

1. to struggle with stumbling or plunging movements (usually followed by about, along, on, through, etc.).

   He saw the child floundering about in the water.

2. to struggle clumsily or helplessly.

   He floundered helplessly on the first day of his new job.

   Synonyms:

   muddle, waver, falter

3. to be in imminent danger of failure.

   The negotiations floundered primarily on the question of extending regional autonomy.

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flounder ² American  

[floun-der] / ˈflaʊn dər /

noun

plural

flounder,

plural

flounders

1. a European, marine flatfish, Platichthys flesus, used for food.

2. any of numerous similar or closely related non-European flatfishes.

3. any flatfish other than soles.

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flounder ¹ British  

/ ˈflaʊndə /

verb

1. to struggle; to move with difficulty, as in mud

2. to behave awkwardly; make mistakes

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noun

1. the act of floundering

flounder ² British  

/ ˈflaʊndə /

noun

1. Also called: fluke.  a European flatfish, Platichthys flesus having a greyish-brown body covered with prickly scales: family Pleuronectidae : an important food fish

2. any flatfish of the families Bothidae (turbot, etc) and Pleuronectidae (plaice, halibut, sand dab, etc)

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Usage

Flounder is sometimes wrongly used where founder is meant: the project foundered (not floundered ) because of a lack of funds

Etymology

Origin of flounder¹

First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps blend of flounce ¹ and founder ²

Origin of flounder²

1400–50; late Middle English < Anglo-French floundre < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian flundra

Example Sentences

He didn’t even like seafood until puberty — “back then it was only flounder or sole for me” — but as an adult, he’s circled back to the foods of his childhood.

From Salon

Still, Allen can sympathize with what he calls the “weird conundrum” that Garrett is going through by having such a successful season on a team that’s floundering.

From The Wall Street Journal

“When the rest of us were floundering around,” Thompson says, “he kind of knew what to do with his life.”

From Los Angeles Times

That rave notice and the many others that followed, along with the rapturous reports sent back by artists and tourists alike, helped shame L.A. into reviving the floundering plans for Disney Hall.

From Los Angeles Times

The 73-year-old had been out of management for more than six years and walked into a club that was floundering on and off the pitch.

From BBC

Related Words

• flop
• stumble
• wallow