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View synonyms for flounder

flounder

1

[ floun-der ]

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.



flounder

2

[ floun-der ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) floun·der, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) floun·ders.
  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.

flounder

1

/ ˈflaʊndə /

verb

  1. to struggle; to move with difficulty, as in mud
  2. to behave awkwardly; make mistakes
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. the act of floundering
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

flounder

2

/ ˈflaʊndə /

noun

  1. Also calledfluke 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)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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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
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Word History and Origins

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of flounder1

C16: probably a blend of founder ² + blunder ; perhaps influenced by flounder ²

Origin of flounder2

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse flythra , Norwegian flundra
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Example Sentences

So far, proposals of “Senate flounder,” “House blowfish,” and “Hope and Change smelt” have met with little public acceptance.

Instead, Bayou, Israel's hedge-fund group, continued to flounder and the deception only grew.

Why did Obama's White House flounder in its initial response to the economic crisis?

China may flounder on the soccer field, but the country is in the grip of a mad World Cup fever.

It has a bathing beach where the gals show what they've got and fat men flounder and cavort far beyond their capacities.

Men crawled over one another, then dropped to the first open spot, to flounder there a moment, then roar in snoring sleep.

Those who followed were compelled to flounder on the best way they could.

And they can go where horses couldn't do anything but flounder and probably cut themselves with their own feet.

She was most aptly named; indeed, I think the Flounder would have been a still more appropriate designation.

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flouncyfloundering