Flounders — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈflau̇n-dər/ floun·der

Meaning & Definition of Flounders

Flounders (noun)

  1. flatfish; especially, any of various marine fishes (families Pleuronectidae, Paralichthyidae, and Bothidae) that include important food fishes
  2. a greenish-brown white-spotted flounder (Paralichthys dentatus of the family Paralichthyidae) that occurs along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. from Maine to Florida and is used for food
  3. a rusty-brown flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus of the family Pleuronectidae) of the northwestern Atlantic important as a market fish especially in winter

Flounders (verb)

  1. to struggle to move or obtain footing, thrash about wildly
  2. to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

Flounders (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

    "unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number"

    similar: blunders, bumbles, flogs (British), limps, lumbers, plods, struggles, stumbles, trudges
    related: jogs, shambles, shuffles, wallows, welters, falters, lurches, reels, staggers, sways, teeters, totters, fumbles, muddles
    near: coasts, flies, glides, kilts, sails, zips, zooms

  2. to move heavily or clumsily

    "the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck"

    similar: barges, clumps, flogs (British), galumphs, lumbers, lumps, plods, pounds, scuffles, scuffs, shambles, shuffles, slogs, sloughs, stamps, stomps, stumbles, stumps, tramps, tromps, trudges
    related: drags, flops, hauls, blunders, careens, dodders, lurches, reels, staggers, sways, teeters, totters, waddles, weaves, wobbles
    opposite: breezes, coasts, glides, slides, waltzes, whisks
    near: drifts, floats, hangs, hovers, poises, wafts

Related Entry: Flounder (verb)

Flounder is a different word from Flounders. The synonyms below are for flounder, not for flounders.

  1. to proceed or act clumsily or ineffectually

    "unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number"

    similar: blunder, bumble, flog (British), limp, lumber, plod, struggle, stumble, trudge
    related: jog, shamble, shuffle, wallow, welter, falter, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, fumble, muddle
    near: coast, fly, glide, kilt, sail, zip, zoom

  2. to move heavily or clumsily

    "the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck"

    similar: barge, clump, flog (British), galumph, lumber, lump, plod, pound, scuff, scuffle, shamble, shuffle, slog, slough, stamp, stomp, stumble, stump, tramp, tromp, trudge
    related: drag, flop, haul, blunder, careen, dodder, lurch, reel, stagger, sway, teeter, totter, waddle, weave, wobble
    opposite: breeze, coast, glide, slide, waltz, whisk
    near: drift, float, hang, hover, poise, waft

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Flounders

The most common words with a similar meaning to Flounders:

British: flogs
blunders, bumbles, limps, lumbers, plods, struggles, stumbles, trudges, barges, clumps, galumphs, lumps, pounds, scuffles, scuffs, shambles, shuffles, slogs, sloughs, stamps, stomps, stumps, tramps, tromps

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Flounders

Words with the opposite meaning of Flounders:

breezes, coasts, glides, slides, waltzes, whisks

Related Words for Flounders

jogs, wallows, welters, falters, lurches, reels, staggers, sways, teeters, totters, fumbles, muddles, drags, flops, hauls, careens, dodders, waddles, weaves, wobbles

Near Antonyms of Flounders

flies, kilts, sails, zips, zooms, drifts, floats, hangs, hovers, poises, wafts

Word Forms of Flounders

Inflections: flounder, floundered, floundering

Origin & Etymology of Flounders

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian flundra flounder

First known use: 15th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Flounders

What does "Flounders" mean?

"Flounders" means flatfish; especially, any of various marine fishes (families Pleuronectidae, Paralichthyidae, and Bothidae) that include important food fishes. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: flatfish; especially, any of various marine fishes (families Pleuronectidae, Paralichthyidae, and Bothidae) that include important food fishes. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Flounders"?

Other words for "Flounders" include blunders, bumbles, flogs, limps, lumbers, plods, struggles and stumbles. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Flounders" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Flounders"?

There are 45 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Flounders". Common alternatives include blunders, bumbles, flogs, limps, lumbers, plods, struggles, stumbles, trudges and barges.

What is the opposite of "Flounders"?

Antonyms of "Flounders" include breezes, coasts, glides, slides, waltzes and whisks. Near antonyms include flies, kilts, sails and zips.

How do you use "Flounders" in a sentence?

Examples of "Flounders" in a sentence: "unprepared choristers who floundered helplessly through the musical number"; "the car floundered through the heavy wet snow, constantly getting stuck".

Is "Flounders" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Flounders" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Flounders"?

"Flounders" is pronounced /ˈflau̇n-dər/ and divided into syllables as floun·der.

What is the origin of the word "Flounders"?

"Flounders" comes from Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian flundra flounder. First known use: 15th century.