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flounder¹ Definition

floun·der (flo̵undər)

intransitive verb

  1. to struggle awkwardly to move, as in deep mud or snow; plunge about in a stumbling manner
  2. to speak or act in an awkward, confused manner, with hesitation and frequent mistakes

Etymology: earlier flunder, ? blend of blunder + founder

noun

the act of floundering

flounder² Definition

floun·der (flo̵undər)

noun pl. -·der or -·ders

any of two families (Bothidae and Pleuronectidae) of flatfishes, including halibut, plaice, and turbot

Etymology: ME < Scand as in Swed flundra, akin to Ger flunder < IE base *plāt-, flat

flounder Synonyms

flounder

v.

flounder Usage Examples

Object

  • fishing: Flounder fishing upriver can be fantastic at certain times of the year.
  • ship: The game roars on the television like a floundering ship.
  • attempt: This attempt floundered in bad weather and the following year the Harriers once again set out from Edale with renewed determination.
  • economy: With a floundering economy, Cairo currently needs all the financial support it can find.
  • deal: Kevin Howe ( MG Rover chief executive, pictured right ) certainly hoped so, but in the end, the deal floundered.
  • eel: Flounder, eel and the occasional school bass are caught with the odd mullet during the summer.

Converse of object

catch: A flounder caught from the Thames at Erith Pier All highly recommended fisheries!

Preposition: at

bottom: Italy floundered at the bottom of a global survey of citizens ' economic outlook.

Adjective complement

due: Sports initiatives for young people in the community have sometimes floundered due to the lack of suitable volunteers to help run the projects.

Modifying Another Word

  • helplessly: He is like a bird with a broken wing, whose instincts prompt it to fly while it flounders helplessly on the ground.
  • about: This saves you floundering about in the dark, miles from the bothy, thinking it is just around the bend.
  • still: However, other issues are still floundering on the margins of public debate - or worse.
  • left: We're left floundering in the shallows of literary fiction.
  • often: From past experience the first part never poses any problems but people often flounder when it comes to the second.
  • officially: Now officially floundering he explained the l'influence de la.

Followed by an intransitive particle

around: Rather than flounder around in the juicy patches again I decided to find another way back via forest tracks to the west.

Preposition: in

  • sea: And a few days later, floundering in a sea of crashing hormones, Angela heard herself say ' I'm sorry.
  • dark: Without her extensive research I would still be floundering in the dark.
  • water: Suddenly you see a man floundering in the water.
  • face: Such floundering in the face of common sense is expected of whichever political party is in charge.

Browse dictionary entries near flounder

  1. flouncing
  2. flounce
  3. flotsam
  4. Flotow
  5. flotilla
  6. flotation
  7. flotage
  8. flossy
  9. floss
  10. Flory
  1. flour
  2. flourish
  3. flourishing
  4. floury
  5. flout
  6. flow
  7. flow control
  8. flow of funds report
  9. flow sheet
  10. flowage