flounder

verb
UK: /ˈflaʊndər/
US: /ˈflaʊndər/

  1. To struggle or have difficulty in a situation.

    1. I often flounder when asked hard questions.
    2. Many businesses flounder when they encounter unexpected economic downturns, such as a recession.

  2. To move awkwardly and with a lot of difficulty.

    1. The swimmer began to flounder in the heavy waves.
    2. The injured bird floundered in the mud, unable to take flight because of its wing.

Synonyms

stumble muddle flatfish wobble struggle
flounder noun

  1. A flat sea fish that is often used for food.

    1. We ordered flounder at the restaurant.
    2. The fisherman caught a large flounder in his net despite the choppy seas that morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "flounder" in English means: To struggle or have difficulty in a situation., To move awkwardly and with a lot of difficulty..

The phonetic transcription of "flounder" is /ˈflaʊndər/ in British English and /ˈflaʊndər/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "flounder": stumble, muddle, flatfish, wobble, struggle.

Example usage of "flounder": "I often flounder when asked hard questions.". More examples on the page.