1
as in stumbled
to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually
unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number
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2
as in shuffled
to move heavily or clumsily
the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck
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Recent Examples of floundered
The bill later passed the Senate as Democratic opposition floundered.
—
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
After the franchise floundered for several years at quarterback, the new trio in power quickly stabilized the position with Smith, who just threw for a career-high 4,320 yards in 2024.
—Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Efforts to create an EU presidency also floundered in a swamp of competing power centers and polysyllabic titles.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
The Tennessee Titans might have floundered on the field last year, but players say the team has made big strides behind the scenes to improve morale.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
But even with such malfeasance – which remains in full force today – and also much deployment of capital that eventually floundered because of brutal competition or disruptive innovation, the savings of Americans has delivered a quantity and quality of output beyond the dreams of any colonist.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 22 Feb. 2025
The 36-year-old Moore will join an organization that has floundered since the retirement of quarterback Drew Brees and departure of Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton.
—Brett Martel, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
The whole planet came to a standstill; many industries floundered and either transformed completely or disappeared.
—Yussef Cole, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
That didn’t matter to Tyrese Maxey, who scored 31 points to lead the 76ers as the Bulls offense floundered.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
After the franchise floundered for several years at quarterback, the new trio in power quickly stabilized the position with Smith, who just threw for a career-high 4,320 yards in 2024.
—Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
Efforts to create an EU presidency also floundered in a swamp of competing power centers and polysyllabic titles.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
The Tennessee Titans might have floundered on the field last year, but players say the team has made big strides behind the scenes to improve morale.
—Adam Tamburin, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
But even with such malfeasance – which remains in full force today – and also much deployment of capital that eventually floundered because of brutal competition or disruptive innovation, the savings of Americans has delivered a quantity and quality of output beyond the dreams of any colonist.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 22 Feb. 2025
The 36-year-old Moore will join an organization that has floundered since the retirement of quarterback Drew Brees and departure of Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton.
—Brett Martel, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
The whole planet came to a standstill; many industries floundered and either transformed completely or disappeared.
—Yussef Cole, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
That didn’t matter to Tyrese Maxey, who scored 31 points to lead the 76ers as the Bulls offense floundered.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Floundered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/floundered. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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