51Թ

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View synonyms for

flounder

1

[floun-der]

verb (used without object)

  1. to struggle with stumbling or plunging movements (usually followed by about, along, on, through, etc.).

    He saw the child floundering about in the water.

  2. to struggle clumsily or helplessly.

    He floundered helplessly on the first day of his new job.

    Synonyms: , ,
  3. to be in imminent danger of failure.

    The negotiations floundered primarily on the question of extending regional autonomy.



flounder

2

[floun-der]

noun

plural

flounder 
,

plural

flounders .
  1. a European, marine flatfish, Platichthys flesus, used for food.

  2. any of numerous similar or closely related non-European flatfishes.

  3. any flatfish other than soles.

flounder

1

/ ˈڱʊԻə /

verb

  1. to struggle; to move with difficulty, as in mud

  2. to behave awkwardly; make mistakes

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act of floundering

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

flounder

2

/ ˈڱʊԻə /

noun

  1. Also called: fluke.a European flatfish, Platichthys flesus having a greyish-brown body covered with prickly scales: family Pleuronectidae : an important food fish

  2. any flatfish of the families Bothidae (turbot, etc) and Pleuronectidae (plaice, halibut, sand dab, etc)

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage

Flounder is sometimes wrongly used where founder is meant: the project foundered (not floundered ) because of a lack of funds
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of flounder1

First recorded in 1570–80; perhaps blend of flounce 1 and founder 2

Origin of flounder2

1400–50; late Middle English < Anglo-French floundre < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian flundra
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of flounder1

C16: probably a blend of founder ² + blunder ; perhaps influenced by flounder ²

Origin of flounder2

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse flythra , Norwegian flundra
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

A nervy start saw Gauff and Keys trade early breaks but Keys settled quickly as her rival continued to flounder, opening up a 4-1 lead.

From

The pilot floundered, but Kind maintained a relationship with Lear and his family in the years that followed.

From

Maybe on a night the Dodgers’ bullpen was fresh, Roberts could have considered summoning a lefty to face Soto once Gonsolin began floundering.

From

Trump is “not worried” about MBS, the trip to the Middle East or anything else because “The Democrats remain floundering.”

From

Pollsters always go out into the country as a president reaches this milestone and the results this time show a floundering administration that's lost the support of a sizeable majority on virtually every issue.

From

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