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Definitions

floundering

[floun-der-ing] / ˈflaʊn dər ɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
awkward
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amateurish rude stiff
WEAK
all thumbs artless blundering bulky bumbling bungling butterfingers coarse gawky graceless green having two left feet having two left hands incompetent inept inexpert klutzy lumbering maladroit oafish stumbling uncoordinated uncouth unfit ungainly ungraceful unhandy unpolished unrefined unskilled unskillful
Antonyms
WEAK
adroit artful clever convenient dexterous easy elegant graceful handy skillful straightforward
ADJECTIVE
doddering
Synonyms
STRONG
faltering tottering trembling
WEAK
anile decrepit dotard infirm senile shaky unsteady weak
Antonyms
WEAK
agile young youthful
ADJECTIVE
incompetent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amateurish helpless inadequate incapable ineffectual inefficient inept inexperienced unqualified unskilled useless
STRONG
amateur raw
WEAK
awkward bungling bush-league clumsy disqualified ineligible inexpert insufficient maladroit not cut out for not equal to not have it out to lunch unadapted unequipped unfit unfitted unhandy uninitiated unproficient untrained
Antonyms
STRONGEST
able capable competent expert qualified skilled strong useful
WEAK
adept dexterous effective efficient experienced proficient skillful
ADJECTIVE
klutzy
Synonyms
WEAK
all thumbs amateurish artless blundering bulky bumbling bungling butterfingers clumsy coarse gawky graceless green having two left feet having two left hands incompetent inept inexpert lumbering lumpish maladroit oafish rude stiff stumbling uncoordinated uncouth unfit ungainly ungraceful unhandy unpolished unrefined unskilled unskillful
ADJECTIVE
lashing
Synonyms
STRONG
beating hitting
ADJECTIVE
maladroit
Synonyms
WEAK
all thumbs blundering bumbling bungling clunky gauche halting heavy-handed inept inexpert klutzy lumbering stumbling two left feet ungraceful unhandy unskillful
Antonyms
WEAK
able capable diplomatic nice sensitive skillful tactful
ADJECTIVE
purposeless
Synonyms
WEAK
aimless designless desultory drifting empty feckless fustian goalless good-for-nothing haphazard hit-or-miss indiscriminate irregular meaningless motiveless needless nonsensical pointless purportless random senseless uncalled for undirected unhelpful unnecessary unplanned unprofitable unpurposed vacuous wanton worthless
Antonyms
WEAK
decided deliberate determined planned purposeful significant useful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A small-cap biotechnology stock was floundering Monday after flaws in a trial design rendered survival data for a groundbreaking cancer drug statistically insignificant.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

So for all their bluster in public, Bondi and Blanche were floundering in court as losses piled up.

From Slate • Mar. 24, 2026

And in floundering the ending, “Undertone” reminds us that tranquility can be far more unsettling than a cacophony of sight and sound.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026

The Las Vegas Raiders entered this NFL offseason armed with the types of assets that could quickly turn around a floundering franchise.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

She was floundering for an answer when Judith spoke.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare