Meaning & use
Floundered
Last updated
Struggled clumsily or helplessly, especially while trying to move, speak, or make progress.
See it in a sentence
The new employee floundered during his first presentation, losing his train of thought repeatedly.
The swimmer floundered in the rough waves before the lifeguard reached him.
A note on using this word
Easily confused with 'foundered', which means to sink or fail completely; 'floundered' suggests an ongoing, clumsy struggle rather than total collapse.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
thrivedflourished
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