floundering

IPA/ˈflaʊn.dər/
KK[flˈaʊndɚɪŋ]IPA/ˈflaʊn.dɚ/

floundering — verb

  • flounderingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • flounderings3rd person singular
  • flounderinging-ing form
  • flounderingedpast simple

1. to lose the ability to act or speak effectively because of sudden difficulties o

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to lose the ability to act or speak effectively because of sudden difficulties or pressure, often making things worse by hesitant and confused reactions.

例句

The publishing company floundered for years after readers switched to digital books.

collocation: floundering company / economy / business

When asked about missing funds, the mayor floundered and could not finish his reply.

floundering under questioning

同義詞
  • struggle

    more general; can refer to physical or mental effort without the connotation of confusion

  • falter

    implies a loss of strength or confidence, but less severe than floundering

  • blunder

    suggests making clumsy mistakes, often because of confusion; more active than floundering

反義詞
  • thrive

    grow or succeed strongly

  • excel

    perform very well in a situation

文法句型

flounder + adverb (hopelessly/badly)

flounder + when/because clause

用法筆記

Subject is often an organization (company, project, economy), a person in a public role, or a plan. When describing a person in conversation, floundering suggests visible hesitation or confusion rather than quiet uncertainty.

常見錯誤

❌The company foundered with its marketing strategy.' (when meaning confused, not sunk).
✅The company floundered with its marketing strategy.
💡'founder' means to sink or fail completely; 'flounder' means to struggle confusedly.
❌She floundered the interview.' (using as transitive).
✅She floundered during the interview.
💡'flounder' is intransitive and cannot take a direct object.

2. to move with great difficulty by making wild, uncontrolled movements of the arms

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to move with great difficulty by making wild, uncontrolled movements of the arms, legs, or body, especially when stuck in deep mud, snow, water, or a similar substance that makes normal movement impossible.

例句

A deer had fallen into the pond and was floundering helplessly in the deep water.

collocation: floundering in [water/mud/snow]

The dog floundered through the thick mud on the riverbank to reach its owner.

同義詞
  • struggle

    broader; can describe any difficult effort, not only uncontrolled movement

  • thrash

    suggests more violent, aggressive movement

  • wallow

    implies remaining in place rather than trying to move forward; often used for animals in mud

反義詞
  • glide

    move smoothly and easily

  • stride

    walk with long, confident steps

文法句型

flounder + preposition (in/through/on)

flounder + adverb (wildly/helplessly)

用法筆記

The environment is typically a substance that resists movement: mud, snow, deep water, sand, or similar. Unlike 'struggle', floundering specifically implies a lack of control in the movements themselves — thrashing or stumbling rather than steady effort.

常見錯誤

❌She floundered in the swimming pool for an hour.' (without distress context).
✅She floundered in the rough sea until a lifeguard noticed her.
💡floundering implies a dangerous or difficult situation, not just casual swimming.

floundering — noun