Meaning & use
Foundering
Last updated
failing or breaking down, or, of a ship, filling with water and sinking.
See it in a sentence
The negotiations were foundering after both sides refused to compromise.
The old fishing boat was foundering in the storm before the crew was rescued.
A note on using this word
Present participle of "founder," which is often confused with "flounder"; foundering implies actually failing or sinking, not merely struggling.
Words with a similar meaning
failingsinkingcollapsing
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Words with an opposite meaning
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