Flound

To struggle or stagger clumsily or ineffectually. It often implies a lack of direction, difficulty in maintaining balance, or a state of confusion and helplessness, both physically and metaphorically. Floundering indicates a situation where someone is struggling to make progress or to find a solution to a problem, often due to uncertainty, lack of skill, or adverse circumstances. This verb captures the image of someone thrashing about without a clear plan or objective and is often used to describe situations of failure or near-failure.

Flound meaning with examples

• The inexperienced swimmer began to flounder in the deep water, struggling to stay afloat with frantic movements. He kicked and flailed desperately as the waves crashed around him. His lack of technique quickly led to exhaustion.
• After the unexpected tax bill, the small business started to flounder. The owner was forced to consider painful options such as cutting staff, losing profits, and selling assets.
• The politician continued to flounder during the debate, unable to clearly answer the difficult questions, he stumbled over his words and visibly lost the argument.
• In the dense forest, lost and disoriented, the hikers began to flounder, unsure of which direction led to the trail. The evening was drawing in, causing even more worry.
• When the computer system crashed during the presentation, the presenter began to flounder, unable to retrieve his notes and losing the attention of the audience.