flounder

Plural: flounder, flounders

Noun

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

Verb

Verb Forms: floundered, floundering, flounders

To struggle clumsily or helplessly.
walk with great difficulty
behave awkwardly; have difficulties
- "She is floundering in college"
To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.
To flop around as a fish out of water.
To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.
To be in serious difficulty.

Examples

He began to flounder, unable to find any good words on his rack.
He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.
Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English flowndre, from Anglo-Norman floundre, from Old Northern French flondre, from Old Norse flyðra, from Proto-Germanic *flunþrijǭ. Cognate with Danish flynder, German Flunder, Swedish flundra.

Synonyms

stagger, faulter

Scrabble Score: 12

flounder: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
flounder: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
flounder: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

flounder: valid Words With Friends Word