verb
flounder
FLOWN-duh
Flounder (verb) means to struggle clumsily or act confused, especially when trying to make progress. Example: “The new employee floundered without proper training.”
verb
1
To struggle clumsily or act confused, especially when trying to make progress.
"The new employee floundered without proper training."
"She floundered for words when asked to explain."
noun
1
A type of flatfish found in shallow coastal waters.
"They caught a flounder off the pier."
How to use flounder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo struggle awkwardly, or a kind of flatfish.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "founder," which means to fail or sink completely — flounder means to struggle, not necessarily to fail outright.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
flounder helplessly
flounder about
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Word forms
- Plural
- flounders
- Third person singular
- flounders
- Past tense
- floundered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new employee _____ without proper training.
Etymology
From Middle English flowndre, ultimately from Old Norse flyðra, the name of the fish.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for flounder
See all rhymes for flounder →Frequently asked questions
What does “flounder” mean?
The word “flounder” means to struggle clumsily or act confused, especially when trying to make progress. In plain terms, to struggle awkwardly, or a kind of flatfish.
How do you pronounce “flounder”?
“Flounder” is pronounced FLOWN-duh (/ˈflaʊ̯ndɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “flounder” in a sentence?
Here is “flounder” used in a sentence: “The new employee floundered without proper training.”
What is another word for “flounder”?
Words with a similar meaning to “flounder” include faulter.
What part of speech is “flounder”?
Depending on how it is used, “flounder” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “flounder” come from?
The word “flounder” comes from Middle English. From Middle English flowndre, ultimately from Old Norse flyðra, the name of the fish.
How many meanings does “flounder” have?
“Flounder” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to struggle clumsily or act confused, especially when trying to make progress.
