flounder
FLOWN-der
/ˈflaʊndər/
To struggle or stagger clumsily in mud or water; to struggle mentally or show great confusion.
Flounder describes the active, clumsy movements of someone trying to find their footing, either physically in a soft surface or mentally during a difficult situation (like an interview).
The story behind the word. The word 'flounder' appeared in English in the late 16th century. Linguists believe it is a 'portmanteau' or blend of two existing words: 'founder' (to sink or fail) and 'blunder' (to move blindly). It perfectly captures the middle ground between making a mistake and completely sinking.
Word relationships
- struggle: Struggle is a general term for making a great effort, while flounder specifically emphasizes clumsiness, confusion, and lack of progress.
- stumble: Stumble refers to a physical trip or a brief verbal slip, while flounder implies a prolonged, awkward struggle.
- flourish: Flourish means to grow or develop in a healthy and vigorous way, representing the peak of success.
- glide: Glide implies smooth, effortless, and successful movement.
Commonly confused with
- founder: To founder is to sink or fail completely (e.g., 'the ship foundered'), while to flounder is to struggle clumsily.
Collocations
- flounder in the water
- flounder helplessly
- begin to flounder
Example sentences
- "When asked about the missing funds, the spokesperson began to flounder, stammering and checking his notes." A description of a nervous speaker.
Memory hook
Imagine a 'flounder' (the flatfish) flopping and struggling clumsily on the deck of a boat. Flounder = Flopping flatfish struggling.
When not to use
Do not confuse 'flounder' with 'founder'. To founder means to sink or fail completely, while to flounder means to struggle but still keep trying.
Fun facts
- Because 'flounder' is also the name of a flatfish, puns about 'floundering in the water' are common in English literature.
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