flounder Definition
- 1to struggle to move or obtain footing, as in mud or snow
- 2to struggle clumsily or helplessly
- 3to be in serious difficulty
Using flounder: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "flounder" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The hiker floundered through the deep snow.
Example
The company is floundering due to poor management.
Example
He floundered for words during the interview.
Example
The swimmer floundered in the rough waters.
Example
The economy is floundering due to the pandemic.
flounder Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using flounder
to feel awkward and uncomfortable in a new or unfamiliar situation
Example
As an introvert, I always flounder like a fish out of water at parties.
Example
The company is floundering in the mud of bureaucracy and red tape.
Example
The project floundered on the rocks when the funding fell through.
Phrases with flounder
Example
He was floundering around in the dark, trying to find his keys.
Example
The team has been floundering on offense all season.
Example
She floundered out of the financial crisis by selling her house.
Origins of flounder
from Middle English 'floundren', meaning 'to plunge'
Summary: flounder in Brief
The verb 'flounder' [ˈflaʊndər] refers to struggling to move or obtain footing, as in mud or snow, or struggling clumsily or helplessly. It can also mean being in serious difficulty, as in 'The company is floundering due to poor management.' 'Flounder' extends into phrases like 'flounder around,' and idioms like 'flounder like a fish out of water,' denoting awkwardness and discomfort, and 'flounder on the rocks,' implying sudden failure.
