flounder, founder

The verbs flounder and founder are easily confused. The guidelines below will help you to choose the correct word.

Use the verb flounder if you mean

• to thrash about
  • The lifeguard saw the swimmer floundering and ran into the surf to save him.
• to struggle
  • Unprepared for the test, the student floundered about aimlessly in a sea of grammatical rules.
• to have trouble with
  • The board of directors did not flounder on the issue of financial incentives.
• to move clumsily or awkwardly
  • Because his snowshoes were too big, Jay floundered in the deep snow.

Use the verb founder if you mean

• to sink
  • Many ships have foundered near Sable Island.
• to break down; to collapse
  • Negotiations between the union and the employer are likely to founder once again.
• to fail
  • The project finally foundered and was never revived.
• to go lame
  • The horse favoured to win the race foundered at the finish line.