Added 4 October 2026
flounder
/ˈflaʊ̯ndəː/ noun
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about flounder at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
verb
-
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.
- To flop around as a fish out of water.
-
To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.
Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)