dictionary · eo1.org

flounder

Fetched 2026-11-03 (live).

Synonyms: founder, flyunder, lounder, blunder, plunder, flounce, founded, sounder, bounder, foulder, flounders

Antonyms: founder, flyunder, lounder, blunder, plunder, flounce, founded, sounder, bounder, foulder, flounders

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Noun

  1. A European species of flatfish having dull brown colouring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder (Platichthys flesus).
  2. Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae.
  3. A bootmaker's tool for crimping boot fronts.

Verb

  1. To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.
    • He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.
  2. To flop around as a fish out of water.
  3. To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.
    • Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall.
  4. To be in serious difficulty.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wiktionary) · cached copy, not a rewrite.