What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
flounder
Example
The fish floundered in the shallow water. [floundered: past tense]
Example
I'm floundering in this new job, I don't know what I'm doing. [floundering: present participle]
Example
The company is floundering due to poor management. [floundering: gerund]
struggle
Example
The two wrestlers struggled for control on the mat. [struggled: past tense]
Example
I'm struggling to understand this math problem. [struggling: present participle]
Example
She struggled to climb the steep hill. [struggled: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Struggle is more commonly used than flounder in everyday language. Struggle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while flounder is less common and often used in specific situations such as describing a fish's movement or a failing business.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between flounder and struggle?
Both flounder and struggle can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but flounder may be considered more informal due to its association with fishing and marine life.
