foundering

[ˈfaʊndərɪŋ]

foundering Definition

• 1. (of a ship) fill with water and sink
• 2. fail completely; collapse
• 3. (of a horse) stumble or fall

Using foundering: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "foundering" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The ship foundered in the storm.

• Example

  The company is foundering due to poor management.

• Example

  The horse foundered on the rocky terrain.

foundering Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for foundering

• collapse
• fail
• stumble
• trip
• slip
• break down
• give way

Antonyms for foundering

• succeed
• thrive
• prosper

Idioms Using foundering

• founder on the rocks

  to fail or come to grief, especially after a period of success or progress

  Example

  The company foundered on the rocks of poor financial planning.

• founder's syndrome

  a set of problems that can arise when an organization or group is dominated by its founder or a small group of founders

  Example

  The company suffered from founder's syndrome, with the founder unwilling to delegate authority to others.

• founder's mentality

  a set of attitudes and behaviors that are common among successful entrepreneurs, including a sense of insurgency, an obsession with the customer, and an owner's mindset

  Example

  The company's success can be attributed to its founder's mentality, which has been instilled in all employees.

Phrases with foundering

• founder member

  a person who was involved in setting up an organization or group, especially at its inception

  Example

  He was one of the founder members of the club.

• founder effect

  the loss of genetic variation that occurs when a new population is established by a very small number of individuals from a larger population

  Example

  The founder effect can lead to the accumulation of harmful mutations in a population.

• founder mutation

  a genetic mutation that is present in the ancestors of a particular population and is passed down through generations

  Example

  The high incidence of breast cancer in this community is due to a founder mutation.

Origins of foundering

from Middle English 'foundren', meaning 'to sink'

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Summary: foundering in Brief

'Foundering' [ˈfaʊndərɪŋ] refers to the sinking of a ship, complete failure or collapse, or stumbling or falling of a horse. Examples include 'The ship foundered in the storm.' and 'The company is foundering due to poor management.' The term extends into phrases like 'founder member,' and idioms like 'founder on the rocks,' denoting failure or coming to grief, and 'founder's mentality,' referring to attitudes and behaviors common among successful entrepreneurs.