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

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

The Dutch coach who showed such a sure touch last season is suddenly floundering.

From BBC

Some think the floundering and flawed heroine, who's fixated with her weight and relationship status, is not the best role model.

From BBC

Google will pay more than $40 million to support South African news media, many of them floundering in a digital age, the country's competition authority said Thursday.

From Barron's

Doncic looks like an MVP in purple and gold, while the Mavericks flounder in the cellar of the Western Conference.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• flop
• stumble
• wallow